Bless the Lord: A Thanksgiving Reflection

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1 – 2, KJV)

Someone asked me this week, “What does it mean to bless the Lord? How can we bless God?” That’s a really good question, and it took me back a few years to a little boy in my classroom who was quite a handful.

Every day, he was into everything except reading and writing. I know that his name made me sigh so many times as I attempted to corral 29 first graders into an orderly group of readers. He was such a cute child, but …

As we were walking to the bus one afternoon, I was holding his hand (I always held his hand, because that was the only way I could contain him), and I said, “You know what, Sammy*? If you wanted to give me a present, the best present in the world would be for you to come to school and follow directions for one whole day without me having to get on to you or correct you. That would be such a blessing.” Sammy just looked up at me and ran off to his bus.

The next morning, I greeted the children, and the day progressed normally.  We read and calculated. We had recess and geography. We painted. We sang. It was an unusually calm day. Smiles reigned as we once again made our way to the buses, and Sammy and I held hands on the way. Just before he raced off to his bus, he looked up at me with his Sammy grin and said, “Got yer present!”

I realized then that not once during the day had Sammy acted out. Not once had I called his name in correction. The whole day had been positive. He had purposefully blessed me with good behavior all day.

I think about Sammy’s example when I think about blessing God, and I know that one way I bless Him is with my life. When I surrender all that I am to Him and live in obedience to His word, I am blessing Him. Just like Sammy, I have the capacity to make God smile when I live by what He says.

I can also bless God by remembering His goodness in my life. Moses spent the entire book of Deuteronomy recounting God’s work in the nation of Israel and urging them to remember what He had done for them. The Israelites had such short memories, and so do we. Remembering God’s blessings and how He has brought us through times of trial is a way that we honor and bless Him. He deserves our greatest praise for His faithfulness.

Still another way that I can bless God is by showing His love to others. As I live in such a way that others see His love reflected in me, He is honored and blessed. This is the life that Jesus lived, and it is the life that I am called to live as well.

I stand as one tremendously blessed. This Thanksgiving season and every season I want to return that blessing to the Lord Who has so abundantly blessed me.

Won’t you join me?

*name changed to protect the not so innocent

“Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty” (Psalm 104:1, KJV)

This is the day I will praise You. This is the day I must sing. This is the time I will lift my voice Adoring You my King.Now is the moment of worship.Now I can see Your grace.Now is the time I long to live Held fast in Your embrace.My heart is fixed on You.My feet will follow where You lead.My life I give to You.My hands will serve; My ears will heed.This is the day I will praise You.This is the day I must sing.This is the time I will lift my voice Adoring You my King.

Happy Thanksgiving from our Home to Yours!