This is my favorite holiday. What could be better than thanking God for all our blessings? And we have many. There are people all over the world without the simple things we take for granted. Victims of disasters on the eastern seaboard, in Haiti, Japan, Israel, Afghanistan, Africa. So many sad things.
This past spring, I believe, we were discussing the dire financial straits in which we find ourselves in this country. Our Bible study teacher is brilliant. He has a Ph.D in classical languages, I believe. He is the head of the history department at a local state university. He said his contacts tell him we are in even worse shape than anyone can imagine. We were depressed, but he offered his favorite verses, from Habbakuk, Chapter 3, Verses 17 and 18:
May we focus on what we have and not what we lack.Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
