Thankful, Day Sixty-Four

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100, NKJV

I know there is only one verb left in my little exercise, but since it is Valentine's Day, I thought I would turn aside for a moment to reflect on all the love that God has put in my life.

Thank you God, for the love of my mother, which has been unconditional since the first time we met. That lady has been a big blessing in my life, and I am so grateful that you didn't give someone else. And thanks Mom, for being the best Mom ever!

Thank you God, for the love of my friends, who have proven themselves faithful and loyal through the hardest of times. I know I have said this before, and I will likely say this again, but thanks guys! I might have been able to make it without you, maybe, possibly, perhaps...but I'm glad I didn't have to try. You're the best friends a man could ask for.

Thank you God, for the singularly special love you are preparing for me, and for which you are preparing me, and that's all I'm going to say about that here. Except to say this: thank you, sweet lady.

Thank you God, for love that is patient and kind;

for love that does not envy;

for love that does not parade itself,

and is not puffed up;

for love that does not behave rudely,

does not seek its own,

and is never provoked;

for love that thinks no evil,

that rejoices not in iniquity,

but rejoices in the truth;

for love that bears all things, believes all things;

for love that hopes all things and endures all things;

for love that never fails!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7, CLS paraphrase