I thought about the chicken salad all morning yesterday – well, I think of chicken salad all the time anyway – but this day I needed an easy lunch, coming back from a trip over the weekend, I spent no time prepping lunch or meals for the week  – so a quick trip to a food convenience store was already in my plans. And yet I wasn’t sure – dill pickle chips or no chips – well to be determined… Lunch (and life) is more interesting with chips – don’t you think?

So, a needed break had just found me – and I went to go get lunch – the right time surfaced and I had just transferred some “blessings bags” to my friend’s car – one subaru to the other – she helps with a group that helps those on the margins – and these blessings bags came from my neighbor – they were a gift from girl scouts earning their bronze award by getting donations and assembling them – all I did was move the bags from one friend to another… It’s good that folks make these bags, hope bags for sure. For the people who donated and who made them and who will get them – we can know that a transfer of love occurs – gifted and received in a spirit of gratitude. 

At the store, the parking was the toughest I ever could have had – but I got one – and backed it in – to the applause of the driver next to me – whew…  but my pride of parking was just silly – that isn’t being through the fire – however my timing was surely the Lord’s because my pride and self-centeredness melted just then, with an interaction with a man asking for change to get something to eat. He was well dressed, not typical of those asking, he did look like his struggles melted his pride enough to beg. And in our brief conversation, what struck me as more sad than physical hunger was his answer to my question if he was able to do anything for Easter. He said no, that “each day is not different from any other” – “well, but some nice church people brought some good food” to him, “that was nice”. Yeah, I appreciate those nice church people too in my life. I appreciate the realization of faith-found generosity is a fruit of the spirit.

I got my chicken salad, I don’t boast about getting him something, it was just a natural feeling of offering, and when he asked if he could get chips too, I said sure, chips too. I think chips make life (and lunch) more interesting and I have an interesting life, no doubt. I felt grateful about having a choice to make and hope in choices. I felt grateful also in this week’s work anniversary. Work has allowed me to provide for myself and family and others in joy. in spontaneous joy.

I’ve been hearing this theme of GRATITUDE all week – first of course for Easter – the most important day of realization for the victory by Jesus for our sakes. Easter is for our jealous God’s sake too, so that He can pull us close, forgiven and forever fortunate. The pick me up for tired selves is gratitude, gratitude that God cares and saves, saves AND cares.

There are many songs of gratitude of course we could sing – and I just heard a new one – written by Brandon Lake – “Hard Fought Hallelujah” – with a lyric that rings true for many who know it is both their hard fight to survive and rise and for God’s hard fight to rescue them and all. For a person realizing each day is a battle: “the struggle keeps me honest – and it breaks down the walls of my pride” – and another lyric for each day is a victory:: “faith isn’t proven like gold till it’s been through the fire”… 

I can’t say that I have had a hard fought battle, I haven’t, I just have had a fortunate existence despite some foibles and frustrations. That conversation in line and it was his face which humbled me most, that “no day stands out” – “no different existence” day to day. That’s what humbled my pride, brought near tears, refined realization that everyday is something different to me, spontaneous me. I’ve got a dill pickle chip dusted life of spicy flavor and crunch everyday…

Gratitude is choosing praise too. Thank You Lord for refining reminders to keep faith eyes open. enjoy the day, for this IS the day the Lord has made!!! Enjoy life – and lunch…

Amen

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Here is a song “Gratitude” – really great… heard on american idol, Breanna Nix & Rylie O’Neil – “Gratitude” as well as Brandon Lake (and Jelly Roll) with multiple song videos of “Hard Fought Hallelujah”: