Sacrifices of Praise

Hebrews 13:15 (King James Version)

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Our van was broken into this week. It cost us $255 to repair it. Ds5 squeezed my toothpaste out onto the floor in his room, pooped on the trampoline, and peed in my closet. Ds1 bumped into me causing me to spill hot soup on ds4. Nightmares this week have created many sleepless hours every night. Our Electric bill is $300 more this mos than last mos thanks to a new meter. Finally ds4 broke his glasses and we can't see the eye dr for 2 more weeks.

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father,

We praise your name and your merciful goodness. Thank-you lord that it was just the van and not the house that was broken into. Praises that they were not able to steal anything. Thank-you lord for a well paying job and a savings to pay for the repairs. Thank-you dear lord for the blessings of children and their childish ways, for without them my life would be as empty as that tube of toothpaste. Thank-you lord for a steady hand that ds4 was not burned and only a few drops of soup escaped the bowl. We praise your name lord that our nightmares remain only that and nothing more. And we thank you for your word: Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,  whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. That your word might comfort us. Thank-you father for the gift of knowledge that we might benefit from invention and enjoy comfortable temperatures year round. Father we thank-you for sight that can be fixed with something as simple as 2 pieces of glass. We give thanks for your mercy and kindness and for your protecting hand. Amen

Its easy to praise Him when things go our way. But to do it when things aren't going well, thats a sacrifice.