Tim Eimer: God's will - always be thankful

Dear friends,
The nightmares started last week. My son is ripped out of our car window, and I must track him down. Fleeing a situation of temptation, I drive through riot rocked streets, lost and on the run. I seek out a woman and discover a hideous injury has marred her face. As I write this letter, it is 4:00 AM , the time these dreams yank me out of a sound sleep.

My feet throb. Walking was painful again this week, and upset stomachs stirred up havoc throughout my teaching days. My patience evaporated in moments this week. Last night, I brought tears to older son’s eyes during homework time, and minutes ago, my youngest woke up wet and throwing a fit. I cursed right in front of him. That’s a new sin for me. The many tasks of my days overwhelmed my thoughts this week causing me to make mistakes and feel like I’m clawing through my “to do” lists unable to stay on top of life’s demands. For the first time in twenty three years, I shut the door of my classroom on Tuesday and just wept. (No, students were not in the room at the time.) Needless to say, my week is not going well.

One thought echoed through my mind upon waking up this morning. Be thankful. No matter what happens, be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ). Be thankful; the absolute last thing I want to hear from God. I want to hear, “Tim, this is the last week of the symptoms.” Tim, this ordeal will soon be over, and you can have you nice life back.” “Tim, this drug is messing with your head so I will not lay these sins at your feet.” But over and over again, God whispered to me. Be thankful. Always be joyful. Keep on praying. Be patient with everyone. Regardless of what happens to you, always be thankful, for this is my will for you because you belong to Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:14 - 18). Certainly God’s will should be to relieve my pain. Without a doubt, God’s will should be that I am cured. Clearly anyone can see, God’s will for my life should be that I have a life to care for my family and raise my boys and minister to my students, but the only message I hear from my omnipotent God is to be thankful.

Apparently I have never properly learned this lesson. I thank God for my blessings each morning, but this runs deeper. Throughout my day, the Spirit prompts me to give thanks when a trip to the school office seems like a trek up Everest, when I consider moving my computer into the bathroom, when I wake up in the dead of night and He compels me to write a letter. So I’ll start with all of you. Thank you, lord, for my many friends who pray and care for me. That’s a good start.

God bless,

T