Children of a generous heavenly Father

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Thanksgiving Day, 2023. Thank you for turning to WORLD Radio to help start your holiday. Good morning. I’m Myrna Brown.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. Coming next on The World and Everything in It: Giving thanks. First off, let me say that each of us at WORLD Radio is thankful to you, the listeners and supporters of this program. Brothers and sisters in Christ who come alongside to create biblically sound news, features, and commentary. It takes a team!

BROWN: That’s right. So thankful. Mary, let’s go around the table, so to speak, and hear what our radio colleagues are thankful for this year. And why don’t you start us off?

MARY REICHARD: I’d be happy to do that! Here's a quote I read: “The world is full of wonders and miracles. But man takes his little hand and covers his eyes and sees nothing.” That's attributed to the Jewish mystic, the Baal Shem Tov who lived in the 18th century.

So this year I have made a real effort to remove my hand from my eyes. Every morning, I write down in a journal what I'm grateful for and what would make today great. And then every night I write down three amazing things that happened that day and how I might have made it even better. It doesn't have to be a mountain top experience kind of amazing thing. I mean, one of my entries was, “I got out of bed and took a good deep breath.” That's it. But amazing. And over time this practice has changed my old hard wiring that seemed to just catastrophize the trivial and minimize the lavishness of my life. I recommend that you try it just like it says in the Psalms: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

MYRNA BROWN: That’s a good idea! Well, first, I'm thankful for your prayers and your kind words during my dad's brief illness and subsequent passing at the end of April. I want you to know my family and I felt loved. I'm also thankful for our heavenly father who is all knowing and, oh, so gracious. You see, my husband Stanley and I relocated from Georgia to Alabama in 2021. A move that had many people scratching their heads. But, you know, God paved the way, and we got to spend nearly two years, sweet, sweet years, with my daddy before he passed. So that's what I'm thankful for.

NICK EICHER: Myrna, I'm thinking of second Corinthians, the first chapter, the third and fourth verses: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

The comfort you received going through that difficulty, you were so kind to share with me. Same with Mary, though she lost her dad many years before. But how were we to know that when your dad died, that my own father would live just four more months, and that he would die this August? It was the prayers of so many, and especially my colleagues here at WORLD, my dear friends who helped me through. So I am deeply thankful.

And as a practical matter, I'm thankful for technology: to be able to set up a temporary recording booth close to my mom and dad in his last months, that time was so valuable. Thankful for that! And finally, thankful for my Dad, his strength, his love, and his example. And thankful to Jesus for dying for his sins and purchasing him a place in heaven.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN: I’m Anna Johansen Brown. Similar to Mary, this year I’m grateful for the ordinary. The ordinary and the sacred, which always seem to be wrapped up together.

Right now I’m in a sleep deprived sort of haze, with Beckett on his 87th time asking…

BECKETT: Wassis? Wassis”

And his little sister is due at the end of December. Breathing is kinda hard sometimes.

All of it is hard sometimes. But it’s the ordinary kind of hard. The mundane, normal life stuff. And it’s that ordinary that I’m thankful for this year. The everyday ordinary where so much of God’s work, so much spiritual formation, actually happens.

AUDIO: [Beckett talking, Wesley singing while doing dishes]

Making dinner with Wesley. Beckett begging to do the dishes with Dada. Feeling my tiny daughter inside me get the hiccups and then get mad about it.

I want to be awake to what God is doing in this ordinary season. Because whatever it is, he’s building a foundation for whatever extraordinary seasons lie ahead.

TRAVIS KIRCHER: Hi, I'm Travis Kircher, and I work on the breaking news team here at World News Group.

I'm thankful for Hebrews 12:2, which calls Jesus the “founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.”

Think about that. He endured the cross. He didn't come to it stoically. It wasn't just a mere irritation for him. He hated it. He despised it.

So why did he go through with it? For the joy set before him. The joy of redeeming us, of adopting us into his family, of spending eternity with us. With me, even though I don't deserve it. Happy Thanksgiving you all. God bless.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Hi there, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Every year my response to the question of what am I thankful for tends to revolve around family in some way or another. This year is no different, but the theme is the joy of children.

My son is two and a half, my daughter is nine months. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt so tired or so totally in love. It’s not that I wasn’t warned, but it’s really something you just have to experience.

And of course, there’s something special about watching them grow and develop and learn how to love each other. And there’s so much that’s difficult about being a parent, wanting to make sure I’m bringing up my children with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord, as I’ve read in Ephesians.

I have to say, though, my favorite part is just how much they make me laugh.

KRISTEN: But did Pete cry?

OLIVER: Doodness, no.

If it’s not Oliver’s tiny little voice reading parts from his books…

AUDIO: [Phoebe giggles]

…Then it’s Phoebe giggling at her mermaid toy or trying out new expressions.

It’s truly no wonder that the Psalmist describes children as a reward. They really are. And I’m thankful for them every day.

JENNY ROUGH: Happy Thanksgiving. This is Jennifer Rough. I’m using my proper name today instead of my nickname, Jenny, because my dad gave me my name. And this year, I want to thank my heavenly father for my earthly father. My dad is generous, kindhearted, and lights up a room. He’s the reason I became a lawyer, which eventually led to my job here at WORLD, so I’m grateful for that, too! A couple years ago, I was so touched to watch him take such good care of my mom in her final months. I’ve noticed that no matter what challenges my dad faces, health scares or otherwise, he’s an upbeat person. I love and admire his optimism and hope.

PAUL BUTLER: This is Paul Butler, Executive Producer of WORLD Radio. A year ago my wife and I bought a starter home in our small town with my son and his wife. We knew it needed some deep cleaning, and refreshing, but as we worked from room to room it became clear that a fresh coat of paint wasn’t going to be enough.

SOUND: [DEMOLITION AND WORK]

Gutting, rebuilding, reinforcing, updating, we’ve done most of the work ourselves, but friends and family have come alongside us and helped us hang drywall, insulate, and install a few new windows. Slowly, a tired, dark old house is being transformed into a strong little house full of light and love.

We really hoped to be done by now, but I’m grateful for the object lesson in sanctification. A year ago, the house was paid for, it was set apart for a purpose, but then the hard work began. Some things had to be addressed right away, while others were set aside until we had more time. Along the way the work was sometimes slowed down by cuts, bruises, smashed thumbs, fat lips, and other demands on our time. And isn’t that like our lives? Thankfully, the creator of the universe is the contractor on that project, and He’s working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Each year, for His glory, another room is cleaned up and made right. That’s what I’m thankful for this year.

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