Interpreting Life through Gratitude

Recently I took a very revealing hearing test. In my left ear I heard a very articulate man giving these instructions, "Say shawl. Say dog. Say pain." And on it went. I dutifully repeated each word. Next it was time to test my right ear. Again I heard the the man enunciate the word say followed by a garbled sound. I repeated the gibberish I heard for several words then I looked up with a puzzled expression and asked the woman who was testing my hearing if I was doing it right. At the end of the test she explained that the reason I could no longer understand the meaning of the words was because the tumor had destroyed my auditory nerve and though I was still able to hear sounds my brain could no longer interpret the meaning of those sounds.

I thought about that experience this morning as I was meditating on Paul's encouragement to, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (Thessalonians 5:18)
How do I interpret the circumstances of my life? My understanding of my relationship with God gives meaning to the situations of my life without that relationship my life is simply a garbled mess.

I believe that God's faithful love is as high as the heavens and so I choose to respond to my circumstances with a heart of gratitude. I have found the when I choose to be grateful it opens my mind to understand. I have also found that just as my brain tumor destroyed my auditory nerve and my ability to interpret the sounds that I hear even so when I loose sight of God's love the events of my life seem meaningless.

Because my heart is set on pilgrimage I find myself leaning towards the grace that leads me. I do not understand the difficult situations I have encountered in life but in faith I look to my Redeemer with a trusting grateful heart.  

And so Father, I thank you for every circumstance of my life. I trust in your unfailing love. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.