Three Gifts Today: "Hard Eucharisteo"...updated

Ephesians 5:20 says: "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..."

In reading the book  One Thousand Gifts  by Ann Voskamp, I have learned about the word "Eucharisteo".  To put it simply, it means "Grace, Thanksgiving, Joy, ".(page 33)  Primarily it is used to describe how Jesus "gave thanks"...in so many places in Scripture...check it out.  Think about everytime you see a reference to giving thanks in the New Testament, especially as it refers to Christ.  I can't go into the whole study here...you need to read the book!  Giving Thanks in all things...changes one's perspective on life itself. Not just in the good things, but in the difficult things as well.  Today's challenge is to list the hard "Eucharisteo" times of our lives.  The times that are painfully hard to give thanks.  The times that we'd rather escape from our troubles and trials and weep and beat our chests and cry out to God, "WHY?"  "Why me?"  "Why him?" "Why her?" "Why, Why, Why???" 

We've all had those times in our lives.  If you haven't yet, I am sorry to inform you, you will.  No one gets through this life without experiencing sorrow, loss, disappointment, fear, anguish, pain.  So how do we give thanks in ALL Things?  How do we get through the "hard Eucharisteo" moments of our lives?

There is no pat answer.  No easy formula.  No magic potion that takes away the agony and replaces it with ecstasy. 

"The Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood.  This do, as often as you drink it,in remembrance of Me.'"  I Corinthians 11:23-25

Jesus "gave thanks" before He broke the bread and drank the cup with His disciples. He knew He was going to the cross to die for the sins of the world (you and me) in just a very short time.  But He still "gave thanks".  This was an example of a very "hard Eucharisteo". 

My three examples of "hard Eucharisteo": 

1.   My son Matthew diagnosed with cancer at the age of 37.
(Why Lord?  He's married, has a beautiful family, and a full life.)
UPDATE: This precious son fought a hard fight for four years, and finally entered heaven's gates 
on May 25, 2014, at the age of 41, leaving behind a wonderful wife and son, and his parents and brothers and many other loved ones who miss him dearly.

2.  My son Matthew diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 18.
(Why Lord?  He's about to graduate high school, and is planning to go
to Bible College to prepare for the ministry.)



3.  My Son Matthew, being hit by a car at age 18 months

while my husband was preparing for the ministry at Graduate School

(Why, Lord? We gave up all to follow You!)

Yes, giving thanks in ALL things is never easy.  There are many unanswerable questions.

But I can honestly tell you this: Even in all the hard times...the times of uncertainty and doubt...and there have been many, many more...I just picked one child tonight as an example...but I have three sons, each with their own stories that have caused me to have serious moments of "hard Eucharisteo"...times when I found it almost impossible to "give thanks."

But God, in His Mercy and Grace...has carried us through. He has worked His miracles in each of these stories briefly summarized above.  We did "give thanks", and He provided streams in the desert and roads in the wilderness... (Isaiah 43:19)

My friend, if you are experiencing a time of "hard Eucharisteo" in your life today, I can only say to you what I know from my own experience.  Give thanks in all things...trust God.  He will not leave you comfortless.  He may even choose to work a miracle on your behalf.  The miracle sometimes isn't what we expected or hoped for, (but sometimes it is!)  but it is what God wants to do inside of you in the process.  Trust Him. He will not let go of you.

Give Thanks.

"Eucharisteo."