I knew that traveling to less developed countries would give me a greater appreciation for what I have. That was one of the reasons I wanted to come on this trip. The lessons in giving thanks for what I have are so precious to me now. More than I knew or expected.
One of our ministries in India was leading a Bible study each Saturday with the ayahs in the different homes. Ayah means caregiver in Telegu (the language spoken in the part of India we were in.) These women work with the foster moms to care for the boys and girls in the care homes. Some of the ayahs were Christians, others were Hindus. One Saturday, right after Thanksgiving, I prepared a message on being thankful.
photo cred: Lara Beth Crawford
For a group of Indian women.
Older, more worn, and more experienced in the hurts of this world than I,
as an privileged American, will ever be.
I know that I have a lot to be thankful for. And I feel I have a lot I could say to American believers about being thankful. Do you know how much you have? How incredibly richly you are blessed? … But to the Indian believers?
How could I preach to them about being thankful? These women grew up in the slums. As women born in India they were dealt a tough hand. Their fathers had to pay (and essentially bribe) men they’d never met with dowries in order to arrange their marriages. Many of them are treated more like property than person. They work hard and barely get by. Life is hard. What do I have to say from my cushy American throne about the importance of being thankful?
photo cred: Lara Beth Crawford, Emily Knudson
I flipped to the concordance in the back of my Bible to look up verses with the word thanksgiving in them. To my surprise a reference in Jonah popped out to me. Not the book of the Bible that I expected to read about thanks. The reference was from chapter 2:
“I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you…” (emphasis added)
This verse is part of a prayer that Jonah makes from the belly of a fish. Weird place to pledge your thanksgiving, right? It’s dark, it stinks, for those of you who know the story you know he’s here being punished. Um… Thanks?
I asked the ayahs if they ever feel like they’re in the belly of a fish. Life is hard, the future is dark and unclear, there’s no denying that things are uncomfortable and unpleasant. Maybe in that place it’s hard to say thank you. Even as Americans we can relate to that. If Jonah said thank you, so can we.
Before finding himself in a fish’s tummy, Jonah was drowning in the sea. He had disobeyed God and tried to run away from what he was asked to do. In the ship that Jonah was making his getaway in he hit a storm and ended up being thrown into the sea. We read in Jonah 2:3 + 5 that he was drowning, seaweed wrapped around his neck, without hope, about to die. And he deserved it! He deliberately disobeyed and tried to run from his Heavenly Father. Jonah got himself into a mess and now he must suffer the consequences. It was there, in that moment, that Jonah was saved. Swallowed by a great fish and miraculously spared… given a second chance. And there in the belly of the fish Jonah says thank you.
It’s not a nice place to be, but it’s better than drowning at the bottom of the sea. And for believers in Jesus, no matter how bad life gets, it’s always better than being separated from God.
Before you knew Jesus, you were in essence drowning in a sea of death, tangled up in the seaweed of your own sin, far from God, and without hope. When you place your faith in Christ you are rescued, swallowed up in his perfect grace and righteousness, and we are now being carried by the Lord through life to a perfect heavenly hope. There will be a day when we get vomited out of this world on the shores of eternal bliss and holy perfection. Can I get a hallelujah? In the meantime, this life can feel like a stinky grave. But don’t forget where you were. And don’t ever forget where you’re headed. If you keep those things in mind, no matter if you’re struggling to get by in India or suffering in a different way in the United States, you can always give thanks.
photo cred: Lara Beth Crawford
THANK YOU so much for your continued love and support. I have been given such a gift in the opportunity to travel to these different places, connect with believers from different cultures, and have my eyes opened to so many precious lessons. I am currently $3,700 away from being fully funded for my trip. Please pray for me, and ask the Lord if he wants to use you to meet this financial need of mine. I am currently sending postcards to all of the financial donors that I have on record. If you do decide to give, please let me know if you have a preference as to which country you receive mail from! South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Mongolia, or China. Thank you and I sincerely pray that God blesses you richly!
