FULL

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 223

Uffdah! I’m stuffed! The wifey and I just finished a scrumptious supper of Thai food. Sometimes ya just need to get your “pad-thai” on… that, and some homemade spring rolls, too.

South of us in the town of Mt. Lake is this little Asian market called King Egg Roll, a true hole in the wall if there ever was one. I gotta tell ya, it’s about as authentic as they come. It’s not really a restaurant though—although you can order carryout—but truly a grocery store, just little and totally Southeast Asian in focus. They have shelves with all kinds of goods, and a frozen and fresh section, too. But within those freezers and fridges, you won’t find anything designed for a Western palate, but rather for those who’ve immigrated here from across the western pond.

Inside those fridges are packaged frog legs; species of fish not found within our shores; grubs, bugs, and grasshoppers; and veggies I’ve never seen grown in Minnesota’s soil. Of course, they have plenty of other items too, like Vietnamese coffee (that’ll make any Lutheran’s hair stand on end). My wife loves that stuff. Uffdah! It’s SO strong that just one sniff can wake the dead. Hahaha.

Anywho, while we could’ve feasted on steak and baked taters tonight, we were both kinda jonesin’ for some authentic Asian grub. So, takeout it was. And like I said, my tummy is full. But that’s not the only thing that’s full tonight; so is my heart.

Now, I’m not on some spiritual high or anything, and nothing remarkable has happened—at least as far as I know. Earlier tonight, though, I just “felt” a washing over me of contentment and peace—feeling being the only word that makes sense.

Contentment and peace, in my humble opinion, really aren’t feelings, although I can see why anybody (including me) would call them that. I think those things are more like states of being. And tonight, that essence or condition gave me another subtle reminder that, for the most part, I’ve relinquished almost all control of my life over to God. In Him, my heart is full. I don’t just “feel” full within, but truly am.

While I might have occasional (and usually quite fleeting) moments of anxiety over this or that, as a default setting, I’m truly at peace. What a gift. Wouldn’t you agree?

Tonight, I’m grateful for that gift; one that God has helped me carry since 2020. Peace and contentment—reasons for thanksgiving if there ever were any. I’m grateful for God’s presence in my life, and for giving me His surpassing peace.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7, ESV

What are you thankful for today?