Whatever a man describes, that’s his word. His promise. A man’s word is everything.”
–Cotton Smith (Dark Trail to Dodge)
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
–2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
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A man’s word, now that’s a quaint thought. I’ve recently read from a number of our pseudo-leaders, our politicians, that is it okay to lie, in fact a lie is better than the truth if it gets what you want, no matter who may be hurt. Lie to get ahead, lie to hurt someone, lie to get your agenda followed, lie even if the facts and the truth show that you are lying. People who follow this philosophy (Machiavellian) follow in the steps of their father–the devil.
A man’s word will show his character (and no I will use the term “man” and not be swayed by the nonsense in Europe that says a gender term can be a sign of discrimination and will not be tolerated). A handshake used to be a bond between parties, that is no longer true. If a man can lie, then his handshake means nothing. Yet we have generations of people who believe there is no absolute truth, that truth is relative. Being relative it is always changing and to the whim of the person who is involved.
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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.”
–Psalm 92:1
In this season of Thanksgiving do not fail to give thanks unto the Lord. It is good for us; it is of benefit to the mind. I have heard so many people say don’t look at your past. Nonsense! I would say don’t live in the past but the past is so beneficial to us. George Matheson said that “The remorse of conscience is the pain of having done wrong; but the remorse of memory is the pain of having failed to enjoy yourself.” Have you ever looked back upon the past and learned how little you had valued it?
How many times have we rushed hither and yon and missed beauty and wonder along the way? We cannot escape the mistakes and memory of the past. We may try to hide it in the mind, but it is still there and often the consequences haunt us. Then how do we overcome? By giving thanks! Treasure today the “gems” that are strewn on the path and the “flowers” that bloom just off the trail. Retrospective love is a painful thing; therefore, love today. There will be no remorse of memory when we thank God for today. Hearken to the words of George Matheson:
“I should like to know that I had not defrauded myself of my birthright, that I made room for others because I had had my share. It will be a great solace to me at twilight that I have basked with conscious joy in the heat of the day. Therefore I shall bask in it now. The cup of gladness which my Father has given men shall I not drink it, even unto the dregs! I shall thank Him for every bird that sings. I shall praise Him for every flower that blows. I shall bless Him for every stream that warbles. I shall love Him for every heart that loves….”
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“They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here–
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock–
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.”
–James Whitcomb Riley
Makes one just want to get out and thank the Lord for the cool, crisp air. To thank Him for the unique and special design of the frost. To thank Him for this special time of life.