Dear fellow children of the 80’s and 90's, do you remember when Oprah Winfrey theology hit the United States? A lot of it Is forgettable, but I have to be honest, at least once she was totally on to something.
“Keep a gratitude journal”, she said, “Every day, write down five things for which you are thankful. This will keep you positive and lift your spirits.” (And the journal businesses cried, "Hallelujah!")
What maddens me about this is that we are presumably giving thanks to the unknown. I mean, who is it that has gifted me my health today? That is the One to thank. A gift has a giver. A thank you has a you’re welcome. So, who in the world were we thanking as we filled our sweet little flowered gratitude journals?!
People, the time has come for Oprah 2.0. Let’s take gratitude to the next level and give thanks to the Giver of the gifts.
This thanksgiving week, as I have done for many years, I wrote a record of what the Lord has done for my family this year. I find myself writing down page after page. Why do I EVER complain? God has been so good to us. God reminded me of events from months earlier, things I had forgotten soon after they occurred, and I thought, yeah, he did THAT too! He overwhelms us with things we do not deserve.
So, this year, I want to give you a peek at my words to God. That way you get a Burwell family update, but God gets the credit. I hope you enjoy.
"Lord, 2023! Almost over! Unreal.
"First, I must thank You for my best gift ever: Babe. Lord, I can’t believe that I am spending my 20th year in a row at the Burwell family thanksgiving! You gave me a GREAT man, and You have made him even greater. He is a ridiculously good husband and dad. Lord, my kids are growing up thinking that it is “normal” for dads to mop floors and make dinner! Thank you for Troy and thank you that we still have so much fun together. We still laugh a pretty good amount! And I never get tired of him. I never want the date to end. #worththewait
"Thank you for Cate. A 1270 on her SAT! (Can you say $ for college?!). Thank you for her being a good and loyal friend. She was a great lifeguard at Camp All American, and You gave her many friends there. In fact, of all the kids, she is the one who is really experiencing the good gift of friends whose values and beliefs are the same, friends who make each other better. Thank you for her musical talent, the songs she writes, the musicals she appears in. Thank You that she works so hard in school and does so well. And thank you that she is just delightful to be with. I just LIKE her so much, Lord.
"Thank You for all the wins that you have given Rihanna this year, especially the opportunity for her to become a basketball cheerleader. I was so proud that she decided all on her own to try out, and she made it! She practices for hours every week, faithfully. She has made some good friends. This summer, she did well with Will at their Publix job. She has reconnected with (birth) family and done it with maturity and wisdom. She is learning to do hair like, well, like a future hairdresser. She walks out of the house with that hair and those lashes and people are like, wow. And I am like, wow, I get to be her mom.
"Lord, you have grown Will so much. I have been amazed at his commitment to football this year. Getting up four mornings per week at 4:45AM (!), dressing out, going to the school for two-hour workouts, followed by one hour weight training class. I mean, I get tired just writing all of that down, and he did it for months. That is a maturity that is new, and You did it, Lord. Thank You also for his week at Rush. (our church youth camp). He had conversations with other kids who love you and it pushed him forward in faith. I think he really is beginning to understand how important it is for him to make good friends. His transition to Hooch (our high school) has been seamless. Oh, and his job at Publix this summer…watching him interview, get the job, dress in green and work hard. And how the old ladies loved him! Emotional growth, spiritual growth, and several inches of physical growth…six foot one! Thank You.
"Lastly, Alana. You have made her beautiful, smart, and so funny. Thank You that I have one child who (mostly) still wants to hang out with her mom. Thank you for the great new friends that you have given her at Taylor Road Middle. Last year she made some friends, but this year she has really had some strong and good friendships. And the fun they have! Thank You for how well she has done in school. Thank You for her health. Oh, and I have loved watching her lead worship at Kids Quest at church. Singing, dancing, praising you, with that big, gorgeous smile.
"It is all YOU, Jesus. You are so good to us, even though we are a mess. We hurt each other, we don’t appreciate our lives, and yet You keep being so good to us. Jesus, I know You love this family. And this family loves You."
I hope you take time this week to do your own Oprah 2.0. It will put a smile on your face for days.