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| ps from ps”Every time I think of you, I thank my God.” – Paul, to the church of the Philippians. But do we? Because I know that I can very easily slip up on showing thankfulness to and for the many things that God has placed into my life, I thought there also my be a chance that you might do that as well. So, for the next few weeks, we’re going to dwell in thankfulness for just a few of the many things that God has blessed us with and I bet that you have/are blessed by the same things! Being thankful physically rewires the brain to lower stress hormones like cortisol, improves sleep, and boosts feel-good neurotransmitters (dopamine/serotonin), leading to higher happiness and lower anxiety. Spiritually, it fosters peace, deepens connections with others, and helps individuals find meaning by focusing on positive outcomes rather than just hardships. So let’s get after it! Today, I remember those that nurtured me, and I thank God for them. Hopefully, you had a chance this weekend to celebrate a mom-type or someone that played that sort of role in your life. Brunch. Flowers. No bickering at home. Dads/Kids making meals. The whole thing. But I know that this day brings up loss and grief as well. It’s a mixed bag for many. I celebrated my step mother, but grieved the loss of my mom and mother-in-law. And many of you are in the same boat. And also hard for those wanting children or the one-in-four women that lost children during their pregnancy. So much of life are these bittersweet and sacred moments. Which makes thankfulness even more important. “So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.” – Luke 2:16. Jesus’ earthly story started out with being nurtured by Mary and Joseph. Did he celebrate her on Mother’s Day? (Joseph sort of got gypped on Father’s Day, right?). But from what little we know in the Biblical story about Jesus’ younger days, they both played a role in nurturing him. And since there was no Dad’s or Mom’s Day, I wonder if Jesus recognized them for that nurturing. I would guess so considering we know he checked in with thankfulness to his Heavenly Father. So, will we? Who has nurtured you that you can reach out to with thankfulness? Beyond parents or parental figures, who can you write to or call and just share some gratitude for their care? And if that person is no longer with us, what attributes of their care-style can we be thankful for and share those same things with those in our charge and reach? This week, may we be thankful for all those that nurtured us. Every time I think of those that nurtured me, I thank my God. Amen. Still in One Peace, PS |
May 13, 2026
