Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy – Psalm 103:1-4
There are so many things to be thankful for in our lives. We look around and choose to focus on what we do not have, and we too often focus on our mistakes. When we focus on our missteps, we fail to see that good things can happen, even when things do not go as planned. Our failures can lead to wonderful success.
Brendan Birt turned right into a moment he and another family will be grateful for forever. Brendan was driving late one night and took a wrong turn. As he traveled on an unexpected detour, down a residential street, he noticed a house on fire. The glow of the growing blaze captured Brendan’s attention. He quickly forgot he was driving in the wrong direction. He knew it was late at night and he wondered if someone was asleep in the house.
Speeding down the street, Brendan quickly made his way to the house. He ran to the front door and began banging on it while ringing the doorbell. He made his way to the windows on the side of the house and soon the four occupants came running out safe. Brendan saved a 22-year-old brother and his three young siblings.
The family was safe. Brendan was in tears. It was a moment of true joy, all because of a wrong turn.
We have much to be thankful for. Today, I hope you will take a moment and look back at moments in your life that did not go as planned. I am sure there is heartache. I am sure there is pain, but there is so much to be thankful for. A wrong turn can lead to wonderful new destinations. A mistake can open doors for new possibilities. Look back on the wrong turns, the unplanned moments. What good came from these? Give thanks.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
