When the Words Don’t Come, Praise!
“Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why the unease within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God.”
~ Psalm 43:5
Since the middle of September, since the day of the miracle, I haven’t had words and ideas swirling in my mind. No rabbit holes to go down. Wordless for no particular reason.
I’ve baked scones, a flowerless chocolate torte. I’ve patted out hamburgers, grilled hotdogs, cooked spaghetti squash, switched out The Keurig for The Coffee Pot that’s been tucked away because I ran out of pods and need to use up the coffee bags in my freezer.
I’ve helped out with my grandsons during the week. I understand why I didn’t write when my kiddos were little.
My husband works from home, so is the hum of his voice wafts nearby throughout the day.
The army worms ate all our grass in August. We feared it wouldn’t grow back. Army worms were an unknown challenge. Even the landscape pest control experts were unsure. It’s October – and our yard looks Easter lush – so green and gorgeous.
We move through an EveryDay Ordinary that changes as it always has since we’ve been married 38 years. Regardless of the changes, regardless of the challenges, we hold on to each other, remember where we came from, remember where we’re going – and don’t let go of God. who leaves us blessing and encouragement in the daily. We live Hope, Faith and Love in the wait of prayers sent out – decade old prayers, lifetime prayers, just-last-week prayers, today’s prayers. Somehow in it all, when we let Him, God turns the eaten up yard of our life into something Easter lush
When my confidence wobbles, I remember what He’s done. I remember and lift up praise. Praise and Thanks for God’s gracious dealings. . . the generous bounties, compassion lavished, love extravagant.
I thank God for over 35 years of lullabys, of Ten in the Bed, This Old Man, Simple Gifts, Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral, Away in the Manger – and little eyes dropping to sleep.
I thank God for a grandson who says when he doesn’t see me, “I lost you, Muddy,” and tells me, “You’re my sweetheart” and asks me to read to him.
I’m thankful for sons who walk through my kitchen door because they want to – and their sweethearts who want to come, too – and for the hope and trust, for God’s plan when they don’t.
I’m thankful for my Forever Man – and the blessing of each moment together – even when it’s a do-nothing moment, an everyday ordinary moment, a Game Day Saturday Morning moment, even a quiet man moment.
I am thankful time for refreshing – for sunrises, sunsets, time to sit long and talk much, time to read, to walk old and new paths and discover the expected and unexpected blessings along those paths.
No – I don’t have the words for stories or poetry or organized and developed posts right now. . . but I do have Praise and Thanksgiving words.
I praise and thank you God, The Creator of the Universe, The King of All We Know, Our Father who loves us, shepherds us, protects and provides for us, who catches all our tear drops and stores them in a bottle, who remembers us when we fail to remember Him, who handles us so gently, yet goes out to battle forces that would smite us without a thought or care. I praise you Father, that you are a God who wants good for His children – wholesome goodness, wholesome love. I am glad that You understands my heart – the intents within, the efforts without – and that You lead me out of error and darkness into light and truth. What a good! Good Father who is there to take the burdens – man made and those I make myself – to take the weight and the solving of them. I pray that this week, I lay each burden down, each challenge I cannot solve, each heart-ache I cannot mend, each fear I cannot quell – that I lay it all down – in trust, in assurance to live peace and joy in the wait of those prayers sent out, of all those things I cannot overcome on my own. I pray that I walk out that joy, that assurance, that knowledge of whose I am in unwavering belief and loyalty. I am thankful Father that when there are not words for me to tinker with, there are the most important words – Praise-for-You and Thankfulness-for-all-you’ve-done words! Thank you, Father, O Sovereign Lord! Amen.
Maryleigh, I’m so thankful for your praise and prayer this Monday morning. I join you today in prayer and thanksgiving. Thank you for sharing this blessed message. Blessings.
There’s always something to praise and give thanks to God for isn’t there? Thanks for the reminder.
Joining you in the praise and so very grateful for God’s working in your life right now.
Praising God with you, sweet friend. I have not written for a few weeks (AGAIN!) and I can praise Him. He is blessing me at every turn and I remember that some of the time. I want to remember it 100% of the time. You have encouraged me dearly this day. Thank you, and I raise my hands in gratitude to our God.
Hello and thank you for visiting me!
This post was very pleasant to read, I really enjoyed it. Wish you a great week!
Maryleigh, you may feel like you have no words, but what you have shared is beautiful and powerful. Praying for you this morning.
*I did try to link up but for some reason I kept getting an application error message.
Me too! The linky tool won’t grab the picture for the blog, so it blocks the link up.
Thanks Lisa, the linky team is looking into it. I had to upload a photo – and then it worked when I checked it out. Hopefully, it will be resolved soon! ~ Maryleigh
Hi Joanne, thank you for your prayers – and your encouragement!
the linky team is looking into it. I had to upload a photo – and then it worked when I checked it out. Hopefully, it will be resolved soon! ~ Maryleigh
Marleigh, just no words for me here. The beauty of this post bathed over my heart today in a very profound way. Been walking through some hard places lately and my wounded heart forgot to praise, to rejoice and remember the God who holds me though I may not realize it. I love your invitation to “remember me Monday” oh may God forgive my forgetfulness as I truly seek Him.
MaryLeigh, this is so… perfectly perfect. Thank you for sharing your true heart.
Yes and amen for your prayer and these words of being thankful for the priceless moments in our path, “I am thankful time for refreshing – for sunrises, sunsets, time to sit long and talk much, time to read, to walk old and new paths and discover the expected and unexpected blessings along those paths.”
We had army worms this year too. They didn’t bother our grass too much but some yards really were devastated by it. Glad yours recovered so nicely! I love your words of Praise and Thanksgiving. It really shows the things you treasure!
So many times and things to be thankful for over the years. Some are big, and some are small ones. Grateful for them all.
I am so glad I read your post today. It was packed full of gratitude and I noticed a few blessings in my own life that have gone unnoticed. Blessings to you and thank you for participating in the Grace & Truth Link-Up. Maree
Aw, Maryleigh … reading your outpouring of praise reminds me of all the things in my own life that I am so grateful for. Including the ability and opportunity to praise God for who He is, as you have done so beautifully in your prayer. 🙂