Some weeks the theme for Thankful Thursday just flows perfectly. Sometimes I leave out dozens of items in order to keep my post within a theme. And sometimes I have a really tenuous theme, like today. I’ve gotten a lot done in the past week and I’m really thankful that I’ve had opportunity to get so much done. It has been relaxing, energizing, life-enhancing.
I do NOT relax by being unproductive. Lack of productivity makes me crabby.
And I complain in abundance (unfortunately) when I am unproductive.
Which is all the more reason that I should give thanks to God when I have weeks like the last one–weeks full of activity and accomplishment.
This week I’m thankful…
…for a reading road trip
It took me a while to figure out how to get ahold of someone who knew what book the book club at church would be reading for February–and once I’d found out, I had to request said book at the (public) library. Turns out, I didn’t request it soon enough to get a paper copy–so I ended up with an audio version last week (that had to be listened to before our meeting tonight.) But we just so happened to be taking a road trip into Lincoln this past weekend, so Daniel and I listened to R.J. Palacio’s Wonder along the way. Since I was having intermittent nausea (gotta love going off the pseudoephedrine), I very much appreciated something to listen to as Daniel drove.
…for quilting companions
My sister-in-law mentioned quilting at the beginning of the year, and we planned this weekend to get some done. Joanna sat on the couch with her hoop, hand quilting a quilt top she’d picked up at a garage sale. I sat at the table on the opposite end of the room, piecing log cabin blocks at my machine and then taking them into Mom’s office to iron. When I went into the office, I shared the iron back and forth with Mom, who was piecing blocks for Anna’s faux-double-wedding-ring quilt. We didn’t have a crazy lot of conversation, but we did have what is nicest when quilting: companionship. God has blessed me greatly by giving me a family I so enjoy and hobbies that we can enjoy together.
…for an evening off
Daniel had class Monday evening and I’d been dreaming up household projects to do, so I took the opportunity of him being gone to get started. I figured out how to get our plane working and planed down the door to the office/someday-nursery so it actually fits into the door frame. I do so love being productive, and the chance to get something done was a huge morale booster.
…for a taste of spring
The snow from a couple of weeks ago was lovely, but so was this last week’s springy temperatures. I took full advantage of the weather by setting up my sawhorses on the driveway and going to town scraping and sanding the closet door for the office/someday-nursery.
…for the promise of projects to come
Tomorrow night, some girls from church are coming over to craft. I’m hoping to get some embroidery done–and am very much looking forward to visiting with my new friends. Then, on Saturday, Daniel and I are planning on getting some more scraping and painting done (hopefully, we can complete the bathroom door too.) Progress on projects is great, and it’s even greater when I have the promise of completing projects.
…for the promise of a final active rest
I love Jesus’ response to His critics in John 5:16-17. He had just finished healing a man and telling that same man to pick up his mat and walk–and the Pharisees went nuts with criticism for both healing and telling a man to “work” on the Sabbath.
“And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is working until now, and I am working.'”
~John 5:16-17
The implication is that God is at work, even now, on His Sabbath rest from all His work of creating. And Hebrews promises that we, the redeemed, shall one day enter into that same Sabbath rest.
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”
~Hebrew 4:9-10 (ESV)
Praise God that a Sabbath rest remains, not one of hardship imposed by laws against healing and picking up mats, but an active rest. Praise God that the Sabbath rest He invites His people into isn’t idleness, but instead is life-enriching active rest.
Thank You, Lord, that I can rest in all my labors this week, and that You have prepared a way, through Your works alone (no work of mine) that I can enter into Your rest at last.