In Everything Give Thanks!

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

I had gone to church all my life but sadly was never taught in church “how” to receive salvation. When in Canada, my son then 5 years old, & I were gloriously saved.

My 2 short years in Canada were bittersweet. I played guitar and sang in the little country church with a neighbor gal. We led a humble evening worship every Sunday night singing only from the Word. We listened to “The Living Letters” and introduced many songs from the Word to our church family. One of them was this scripture from I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Fast forward 2 years from that time, we moved back to California after helping my mom settle the estate from the passing of my Dad. In those 2 years gone in Canada, I lost everything… and I mean EVERYTHING. I began building our lives once again. Found a wonderful church; got a job; got an apartment…. we did not have a stick of furniture but had cases of canned food that we had preserved in Canada. I went to Sears and applied for a credit card to only get beds & a kitchen table. I had never had credit before and credit was denied. I was heartbroken praying and asking Father why He didn’t provide us our needs when His Word promises that he would.

I will never forget that very night. I had opened a jar of veggies; potatoes & smoked salmon we had canned in Canada. Set our “box” we were using as a table; sat down on the floor, and asked Jimmie to pray for our food.

He began, “Jesus, thank you for our food. Help mommy not cry & be sad… and Jesus? Thank you for this box so we don’t have to eat on the floor”.

That was 46 years ago, and I remember like it was yesterday. My little son 5 years old taught me the greatest lesson straight from the Word of God and I apply it every day: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18

I taught and sang this song after at many camp meetings, VBS’s and Children’s Church services…. and with it shared this testimony of God’s will for all of us in Christ Jesus, and that is to be grateful in every circumstanceof your life!

Sometimes it is our children who teach us the greatest lessons of our lives…. For this Mom? Mother’s Day is all the sweeter and all the more special to me for all of God’s Gifts to me and my favorite of all time was when I was taught from my little boy praying to God with all his heart: “…in EVERYTHING give Thanks!”

Kathlene Delgado-Powell