Patty and I went out to dinner tonight using a hundred-dollar gift card she received for her birthday from the ladies in her Bible study. We had never been to the restaurant before, it was called the Sybaris Bistro on First Street in Albany. We had a lovely time in a nice restaurant with great food. It was a very relaxing evening spent visiting with my beautiful wife of 54 years.
It was one of those times when as Patty was talking I was thinking and remembering the highlights of our past 54 years of marriage. As I was thinking about dozens of events in our past, I felt a growing sense of gratitude to the Lord for His incredible blessing to me of Patty, our marriage, our kids, our growing family, and our ministry. There is very little of all that I have been blessed with from the Lord that I can take credit for. It is truly the sovereign work and gift from God in my life. Why He has chosen to bless me to the degree that He has I have no clue. I know many people and know about many who have accomplished much more than I have and grown more in character than I have who’s lives are marked by tribulations and trials, and they have few of my blessings. I often wonder about that mystery.
I realize that there is a blessing that God gives as a reward for the right living and a godly lifestyle. Still, even that in my life is primarily the result of good parents, teachers, Pastors, youth pastors, camp counselors, and friends over the years that God chose and placed into my life at the perfect times. I am a recipient of God’s blessings, a product of His sovereign and wise maneuvering in my life. As I thought tonight about all of that, I felt very grateful, as well as humbled. I thought how terrible it would be if I were to take credit for where I am now in my life. I know I have, and I probably have more than I can remember or realize. I whispered a prayer under my breath to the Lord, asking Him to forgive me of all my pride and help me walk humbly with my God.
Of all my blessings from God, probably none are more significant than Patty.