Always thankful for the goodness of God

In this season of difficulty and loss, I sometimes find it challenging to be thankful. I tend to focus on the pandemic, those who have lost loved ones, the loss of jobs, and the emotional and psychological impact of shelter-in-place. In other words, I tend to pay more attention to my situation instead of focusing on the goodness of God.

I’ve found that when I affirm God's goodness, my cup overflows with thanksgiving.

God's goodness and blessings are everywhere. His goodness is evident in the development of two vaccines that will go a long way in reducing the spread of COVID-19. It’s evident when our church family can be connected in a pandemic to hear God's Word, worship, and share Communion virtually. When I think about the joy I experience married to a spirit-filled and loving wife and precious grandkids, I can testify that God is good.

I believe in God's goodness when I think about how God gave his son, Jesus Christ, to die upon the cross to redeem me back to Himself and bless me with eternal life.

His disciples, like many of us, were filled with grief, despair, and hopelessness during uncertain times, but thanks to the goodness of God, Jesus was raised from the dead. My hope and joy are in the risen Christ. I face challenges in my life, but I can still be thankful when I think about the goodness of the Lord. Psalm 27: 13-14 declares, "I would have lost heart unless I believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord; In the land of the living.”

When I reflect on the goodness of God, my Aunt Dorothy's life witness comes to mind. She was still singing in the choir at my home church in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the ripe old age of 87 and died when she was 88 years old.

Aunt Dorothy was a spunky four foot nine and was a powerful witness to how to give thanks to God in difficult situations. Every Sunday, she would come down from singing in the choir and began testifying, waving her hands, and saying, “Thank you, Jesus.” God is so good.

When she heard that her ex-husband was put out of his house by his third wife, had no place to live, no money, and was drinking heavily, Aunt Dorothy drove her car to Houston looking for him. She found him, made him get in her car, and took him back to Corpus Christi to live with her and care for him.

Their adult sons did not want her to do it. They were still very bitter about how he had treated their mom and how he was absent from their lives growing up. Many church members thought she had lost her mind for even giving him the time of day. In my estimation, she had not lost her mind, but in fact, she had gained the mind of Christ.

Aunt Dorothy worked just about every day and cared for her ex-husband until his death. Through Aunt Dorothy's witness, her sons were able to reconcile with their father before he died. Aunt Dorothy's faithful witness to God's goodness overcame her bitterness and resentment.

Having confidence in God's goodness gave her the strength and courage to forgive and love her ex-husband unconditionally. Her assurance of God's goodness enabled her to give thanks in a difficult and challenging situation. What an example of God's love and goodness toward us!

Despite our failures, mistakes, and disappointments, God, through Christ, pursued us, cared for us, sheltered us, and saved us.

Not only was Aunt Dorothy's life a witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, it was the gospel. As I reflect on her relationship with God and her witness, I am convinced that NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES, GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD.

I know this Thanksgiving may be difficult. I will miss having a lot of family over for turkey dinner and fellowship. In spite of this, I will have an attitude of gratitude and I will be thankful for the one thing I can surely count on: God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.

"I would have lost heart unless I believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord; In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and he will strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord."

–Psalm 27: 13-14