If You’re Unraveling a Bit Before Thanksgiving

by Lois Flowers

During the last few days, there have been times when I felt like I was one thread yank away from completely unraveling.

trees

Not because of a particular event or situation or heartache. Just because … life.

Life that includes (but is not limited to) lost contact lenses, malfunctioning garage-door openers, skyrocketing health insurance premiums, unexpected hormonal flareups, canceled dental discount cards, bad haircuts, broken hair straighteners and my apparent inability to handle all these inconveniences graciously while wearing my glasses.

Here’s the honest truth. When I get to feeling (and acting) out of sorts, I tend to talk to myself quite a bit. I try to remind myself what is good and right in my life. I make a special effort to notice blessings that often seem to come out of nowhere (like buy-3-get-1-free tire specials, gifts of creativity from blogger friends and the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship).

I pay attention to the fall colors outside my kitchen window and the delightful ways my girls are growing right before my eyes. I put my recent string of annoyances into perspective by thinking of others with much more pressing problems.

I also tell myself that sometimes, what really I need is a good night’s sleep. So I send my exhausted self to bed after a less-than-stellar Friday, firmly believing that joy can and very often does come in the morning.

I wake up on Saturday with a Scripture passage on my mind, one I’ve loved forever that takes on fresh meaning in my current season of quasi-struggle. It too is a conversation someone is having with himself, one that begins on a discouraged note but ends in quiet expectation.

I think we can all use a little bit of that right about now, don’t you? As you look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas, may these verses continually flood your minds with hope and peace.

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

—Lamentations 3:19-26

Lois Flowers

P.S. Linking up this week with Kelly Balarie at Purposeful Faith, Dawn Klinge at Grace & Truth, Jennifer Dukes Lee at #TellHisStory and Holley Gerth at Coffee for Your Heart.

Photo by Molly Flowers

Leave a Comment

20 comments

Jennifer Clarke November 28, 2016 - 7:28 pm

The holiday season can be stressful for us all! Thank you for this reminder of God’s ever-fresh mercies waiting for us each day. I’m glad you shared this with us at Grace & Truth!

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Lois Flowers December 2, 2016 - 7:39 pm

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season, Jennifer! 🙂

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Brenda November 23, 2016 - 7:21 am

Lovely post, Lois. These thanksgiving weeks do seem to keep us frayed, don’t they? Life doesn’t stop so we can accommodate a holiday. 🙂 Love your perspective. Thank you for sharing these verses this morning. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:58 am

Ha, Brenda … so true: “Life doesn’t stop so we can accommodate a holiday.” I wish it did, though. 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement today … I hope you have a delightful Thanksgiving, frayed parts and all!

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Alice Walters November 23, 2016 - 7:10 am

Oh my gosh, Lois, are you living in my house! I call them “frump” days, nothing quite disastrous, but nothing seeming quite right either. It’s crazy how reading someone’s struggles, their frustration or anger, their laments in Scripture can encourage us. Your transparency is refreshing, and you are so right about turning to the Word, and putting things in perspective. Blessings for a day of blissful contentment! Your neighbor at Holley’s

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:56 am

“Frump days” is a wonderful way to describe it, Alice. I’m sorry this is also going on at your house, but I’m thankful to know someone else understands! Thank you for sharing your empathy this morning … I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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Kristina November 22, 2016 - 8:20 pm

God is so faithful! He knew that I needed to read this. What are powerful scripture of His love and faithfulness to us. Neighbors at tell his story

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:54 am

I’m so glad we are neighbors at TellHisStory this week, Kristina. I love it when the post next door is exactly what I need to read that day! 🙂 Blessings to you this Wednesday morning!

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Jeanne Takenaka November 22, 2016 - 4:59 pm

Lois, I’m sorry it’s been a hard season for you. I know those seasons, too well. Thank you for taking me back to Lamentations 3:19-26. It’s when I remember that my hope is in God that I can keep moving forward. He will give me/us all that we need to take the next step, even when we’re feeling unraveled (which I’ve been feeling too).

And sleep? That’s always a good thing, isn’t it? 🙂

I hope your Thanksgiving will hold rest and joy in the celebrating, my friend.

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:52 am

Jeanne, I think the Lamentations passage first became dear to me during those years of infertility … after a bad day, it’s so nice to know fresh mercies await the following morning. And joy, too. 🙂 Moving forward with you, my friend … one step at a time!

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Trudy November 22, 2016 - 4:23 pm

I’m sorry your life is feeling so unraveled, Lois. Sometimes it seems like one thing after another piles up, doesn’t it? I love those verses. It’s a comfort to remember we will never be consumed because of His great love. Have a blessed Thanksgiving! Hugs!

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:49 am

Thank you for your encouragement, Trudy. The pile gets smaller and then it gets bigger again, but yes–because of His great love, we are not consumed by it! I’m resting in that today, my friend. Hugs to you!

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Lesley November 22, 2016 - 1:09 pm

Sorry it’s been a tough week. I agree, all those little things can add up at times and really get to us. I like your response to talk yourself into a different perspective, and love those verses. It’s always encouraging to remember that God’s mercies are new every morning. Hope you have a good Thanksgiving!

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:46 am

That passage of scripture has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember, Lesley. So beautiful and comforting! Thank you for your kind words … I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

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Christine Duncan November 22, 2016 - 12:32 pm

Well there you go… I really needed to hear someone else juggling all the chaos today so that I know I’m not even remotely alone, lol. I’m learning to make my knee-jerk reaction in these scenarios to be eyes on Him… to lift thanks… to remember to Whom it all belongs.
Love your scripture choice, Lois, I need t keep it close by for the next while, I think 😉
Thankful for you this week!

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:45 am

Christine, my friend … I have missed your posts in my inbox and have been looking forward to a spot of time where I can slowly enjoy the one waiting for me right now. 🙂 You are not alone, and I’m so glad you spoke up here to let me know I’M not alone! I’m giving thanks right along with you (and for you) today. 🙂

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Linda Stoll November 22, 2016 - 8:38 am

Unraveling is such an apt word, isn’t it. And all the craziness seems to spring up from nowhere, doesn’t it, cascading like a string of dominos kicked right flat over.

In the midst, I pray you’ll, we’ll, hear Him whisper, ‘peace, peace.’

And we’ll embrace it, and the Giver of such grace.

Thanksgiving blessings send your way today, dear Lois …

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:42 am

I love the word picture you paint, Linda, and the encouragement you share. I’m hearing that whisper of peace this morning, and what a balm it is to my frazzled heart. I’m thankful for you today!

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Liz November 22, 2016 - 6:48 am

Great reminder, Lois! If for nothing else, we can always be grateful for the love of God that never fails us. Blessings to you!

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Lois Flowers November 23, 2016 - 8:38 am

Amen, Liz. Many Thanksgiving blessings to you, my friend!

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