Psalm Meditation 1298 ¶Third Sunday of Easter ¶May 4, 2025 ¶Psalm 9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%209&version=NRSVUE ¶Every now and then, we notice how much we have to be thankful for and our hearts and minds explode with thankfulness. Something as simple as turning on the faucet to get hot water, or any temperature water, was unheard of not that long ago. And that is one of the simple things that we usually take for granted. Fortunately, we have moments from time to time in which we are overwhelmed by the gifts we have come to expect from the hand of God through the marvels of modernity. ¶Part of my mealtime prayer is to thank God for all the people who had anything to do with bringing the meal to the table and for all those who will clean up after us. When I began using these words I thought of family and friends who had bought the food, prepared, and served it. As time has passed, I have become aware that the grocery shelves did not stock themselves, that the products did not arrive at the grocery on their own, that the packaging did not simply appear, the farmers and producers had to have seeds, machinery and so on that had to come from somewhere. And that is just the supply side. The disposal side is just as long and involved. If I were to name all of the groups involved in getting a meal to the table, including the folks who built the table and chairs, my food would be cold by the time I finished my prayer. ¶When we follow the trail of our thankfulness back through all the sources, we eventually work our way to God whose providence, seeing our need before we notice, and all the ways and all the things, people, etc that provide for the needs we have. God watches out for us and provides for us in times of plenty and in times of want, in ways we notice and ways we miss. “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” (Psalm 9:1) ¶April 29, 2025 ¶LCM