Gratitude

Really Random Thoughts

Sharon Davis, Jacksonville, Florida

I was on a six-week sabbatical with my husband when Pam Gurrentz asked me if I would like to share my thoughts on gratitude for WomenToday.International. I thought, “what a timely request!” as I was feeling pretty grateful to have such an opportunity provided to us by our amazing congregation, the Jax Church (https://jaxchurch.com) of Jacksonville, Florida. 

So for the past several weeks since that request I’ve considered how gratitude has shaped my relationship with God, and my genuine love for Jesus. As I meditated on the past 29 years of my life, since Jesus became the center of my existence, I began to realize how much gratitude has motivated my walk with God in the most profound ways.

Before Jesus, I was good at masking my double life. I was in the music business, very responsible by day, living in Nashville, Tennessee, living my best life. Some people actually wanted to “be” me! By night, I was a train wreck - often drunk, promiscuous, aimless, and insecure. I was a runner. As I ran my few miles round the city day to day, I kept asking myself (or God) -- is this all there is to my life? God heard those thoughts, those questions. My heart. 

GRATITUDE. 

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, the set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place of stand.” (Ps 40:2) I was 33 years old. For the very first time in my life, my feet were on solid ground. 

GRATITUDE.

As a single woman in the music business in Nashville, surrounded by materialism, men and margaritas, all the things that drove my life -- I fell in love for the first time in my life with my new love, Jesus. I read God’s word as if my life depended on it. And it did. I was anchored by the living Word. I still am.

GRATITUDE.

I met the earthly, Godly love of my life and married him -- two months before I turned 40. 

GRATITUDE. 

I (we) had our beautiful girls at age 41 and 43 - even though, years before, my selfish, scared, confused, short-sighted young self terminated a life that God had been knitting together in me. I told the new love of my life that I was certain we would not be able to have children because of the choices I had made. “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (Ps 103:10). 

MORE GRATITUDE than there are words to express.

Keith and I have had the privilege of being in the full-time ministry our entire marriage: Nashville, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; Sacramento, California; Jacksonville, Florida. God has gently humbled us, changed our mindsets, encouraged our boldness of going against the grain, and put so many godly men and women in our lives to hear us, mature us, comfort us - -they are our heroes in the faith.

Nothing has taught me more about God’s character than being a mom. Our two beautiful, smart, strong-willed girls have driven me to my knees in more ways than even the political climate of this country has!! And guess what? I have a wild child -- just like me. She beats to her own music, has challenged my legalism, does not presently subscribe to God’s way of doing things. She has taught me more about God’s mercy and forgiveness than any one person on the planet. It took me a long time to come to this attitude with her, but now – 

GRATITUDE. 

I walked with my neighbor this morning. It’s my birthday! I hated this house when we bought it. Sight-unseen to me. I cried the first night in the house, had a fit of rage and threw a can opener across the kitchen at midnight. I tried to move multiple times after we purchased it. But God knew better. The truth is, if I had seen the house and had had time to examine all of its flaws, we would not be living here now. I would never have met that neighbor. That neighbor and her husband are now disciples of Jesus and she is one of my best friends. 

GRATITUDE.

There are so many “moments” in my life that continue to lead me straight to God and his mercy, His vision, His way -- these are just a few that I mention here. And I know you have had the same type of experiences. I want gratitude to thrust me out of my comfort zone, to take me to scary places (for Jesus), to help me to love more deeply, to share more boldly, to judge less harshly and to shine brighter than the stars in the universe. “Those who are wise will shine lie the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)

I hope this encourages you to look for God in the darkest, most confusing, most challenging, most exciting, most anticipatory chapters of your life. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)