Sometimes pearls of wisdom land in our palms at the oddest times. I may be channeling Fred Rogers somewhat when reminded of his “tag line” on Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood – “I like you just the way you are.” He was, you recall, an ordained Presbyterian minister. Or Billy Joel’s famous ballad “Just The Way You Are.” More to our point of relevance and reference for Lent is the familiar hymn “Just As I Am.” God loves you with an unconditional love as if you were the only person He had to love. No, that does not mark the end of this blog!

Hopefully, you begin each day with some sort of prayer routine. Blessings and burdens, “happies and crappies”, regrets and praises. Thanking God for His many blessings, few if any that are material or “stuff.” Thanking God for my wife. Expanding that to “Thank you, God, for my wife, just as she is.” It makes a difference in my heart. Any subject will do. “Thank you, God, for my life, just as it is.” “Thank you, God, for my disability, for it teaches me humility”. You may notice your outlook improving, even if your situation does not. We may find ourselves more grateful for the little things; more accepting of other people and life’s circumstances. Nights are sometimes restless, and days can be long and tough. Be thankful to God for that extra awareness, those added four words: “just as _ _.” The stress and struggle often remain, and we should not retreat from them. Sorrows and pain are neither intentionally inflicted by God, nor are they to be glossed over and white-washed. But thanks be to God in Christ Jesus who is preparing us for the life worth striving for.

Pastor Art