Suffer me not to be insensible to these daily mercies

by chuckofish

Yesterday morning I had to get up and at ’em early to go to the Mini dealer for maintenance on the old Coop. Always a fun prospect, but even more fun when it is -5 degrees. They are so high tech now–they send you a video on your phone while you are waiting to let you know what’s going on.

Also, they have good coffee and Clif Bars in the waiting room.

After I got home I finished reading If You Can Keep It by Eric Metaxas so I could go to the women’s book club at church last night.

I do not attend book clubs as a rule, because I am too critical and usually hate the book that has been chosen. But since it was a non-fiction book, I felt that I could handle it. As the back cover says, “In 1787, when the Constitution was drafted, a woman asked Ben Franklin what the founders had given the American people. ‘A republic,’ he shot back, ‘if you can keep it.’ More than two centuries later, Metaxas examines what that means and how we are doing on that score.” The author believes that we need to rekindle the love for our country that we Americans use to have and I quite agree. I liked the book.

“It is the real stories of heroes like Washington and Nathan Hale and others that help us to properly feel the power of the ideas behind them. We must feel the horror of tyranny and must love the noble idea of liberty. We must love America. We cannot reduce things to the intellectual. In the end we must feel those ideas and see them embodied in heroes and stories. By deciding that every potential hero is too flawed to celebrate and venerate, or that such stories are somehow corny, we have done a grave disservice to several generations and to the country.”

Well, don’t get me started on that subject.

Anyway, I managed to drive there and back in the windy snow, so yay me. And thank you, Jesus.

And here’s a good reminder to be thankful for all the blessings we enjoy:

I thank Thee for the temporal blessings of this world—the refreshing air, the light of the sun, the food that renews strength, the raiment that clothes, the dwelling that shelters, the sleep that gives rest, the starry canopy of night, the summer breeze, the flowers’ sweetness, the music of flowing streams, the happy endearments of family, kindred, friends. Things animate, things inanimate, minister to my comfort. My cup runs over.

Suffer me not to be insensible to these daily mercies. Thy hand bestows blessings: Thy power averts evil. I bring my tribute of thanks for spiritual graces, the full warmth of faith, the cheering presence of Thy Spirit, the strength of Thy restraining will, Thy spiking of hell’s artillery.

Blessed be my sovereign Lord!

–Valley of Vision