Thankfuls, 2023

In an attempt to get a jump on things, I’ve decided to start procrastinating on my sermon earlier this year. I feel like such a go-getter! I must be maturing in my old age…

Every night we get together in the boys’ room for prayers. Between “Now I lay me down to sleep” and The Lord’s Prayer, we take turns sharing our thankfuls – those things for which we are grateful. It’s a good way to end the day, focusing on those people and events that create gratitude rather than on the things that haven’t gone right. Of course, bed time isn’t the same time for everyone any more, but we still do our best to maintain this ritual. It’s gets goofy at times; we usually hear from more than one stuffed animal. Torsten is a burgeoning comedian, especially when he should be calming down, which would be annoying if he weren’t so darn funny. This year, in a world so broken, I am thankful that I have so much for which to be thankful. I pray that you do, too. Here’s my list:

• Sabbatical
• Dave Eggers
• The teachers of Grace
• A breakout season for Junior
• Ten-year-old Torsten, still so goofy
• Bacon
• A refrigerator that works
• Joshua trees
• Herrnhut, home of Zinzendorf – fun words to say
• Brandy old fashioneds
• Hockey – Ice Bears and Friars and Hawks, oh my
• That Rohan had come at last
• Two Kingdoms, and that God rules over both
• Clean socks
• Thin floors that allow joy to echo through the house
• Kofola
• Ian McFarland
• Ottey and Mitch, the best stuffed otters around
• Having a catch
• Slovak sunrises
• Preaching the parables
• Greta, our amazing high schooler
• Vítor Westhelle
• Alphabetized bookshelves
• A full sanctuary
• Zmrzlina
• French’s Fried Onions
• Mary Oliver
• Naps
• WittenBurger
• Reconciliation
• The Johannine Epistles
• Czech sunsets
• LBW 123 and 456
• That one guy who spent so much time with us at the Bonhoeffer Haus
• Birthday breakfasts
• Gifted pastoral colleagues
• A new coach for the USWNT
• Sharing meals with Grace members
• A nice pair of flip flops
• Palm Springs in the winter
• Anders the awesome – what a cool kid
• Warm hospitality at the Thomaskirche (you’re always welcome Bach…)
• Friends
• Friends
• Tournament weekends away
• Prater Wien
• Candler School of Theology
• Getting to say, “Actually, it’s Dr.”
• Being smart enough, usually, not to
• The seven-seater Alhambra
• Our Thanksgiving family
• My mom
• European breakfasts
• Erika, always
• Faith, hope, love
• Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who will not let us go

I pray that your Thanksgiving, whatever it looks like, is a day filled with peace, hope, and joy.