Page 8 - praiseandthanks

If we are to see selfishness for what it is, wilfulness for where it

leads, if we are to learn to take a risk on God, then, in
everything that is going on, that has happened to us, that might

happen, praise and thanks offered for it will be the pathway to

real peace and the discovery of a deep relationship with God,
of making our life to count. A humble trusting hope is

manifested through praise and thanks, the creature honouring

the Creator from whom we came and to whom we are going.

One thing we sometimes like to indulge in is the criticism of
others. We can indeed even sit in judgement on ourselves and

say we are no good, can’t do or be what we want and should
give up trying, but no, only God is qualified in all these matters.

In Rom. 8:28 we read: “all things work together for good for

those who love Him.” Loving God is essential in our hanging in

there for the result that all things work together for good.

Merlin Caruthers would have us get down to some details. He

proposes the idea that God brings, God allows, people who are

difficult to love to occupy a place in our lives. What are we to do
about them? We are to praise God for them, and thank Him, of

course. God can make it possible to accept and love them

through praise. Perhaps God wants us to be a channel of His
love to them through such praise, loving them just as they are,

regardless........ As St John of the Cross would put it, “where

there is no love, let us put love and we will find love.”

So now, if we are to praise and thank God for everything and
everyone, this will involve a profound submission to Him.

Maybe it is an alcoholic husband, a controlling wife, a rebellious

child, drug addicted family members, someone dear to us who
doesn’t want our love, pressures of work, irritating people

perhaps they are all revealing something about ourselves, our
own weaknesses. Perhaps they make us realise, when we

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