I’m Thankful
Many years ago, my family and I attended a concert at our church. The singer was Paul Hill, an old friend of my pastor’s who was visiting from California. Paul was responsible for collaborating on many wellknown songs, but I think his greatest gift was for entertaining children. He knew exactly what to do to make them smile and laugh and take joy in the Lord.
Of Paul’s most memorable songs was one that he composed with the help of some of the students where he was teaching. He had all of the kids list what they were thankful for and then he put all those things together in the song. One of our favorite lines from the song was “For nice clean clothes and boogers in your nose, I’m thankful, I’m thankful.” The kids at our church laughed hysterically when Paul got to that line. Over the years, he updated the song to include current things to be thankful for, like “For the Easter Bunny, Santa, and Hannah Montana, I’m thankful, I’m thankful.”
Paul passed away in 2009 and will be greatly missed. I can only imagine that he’s up in heaven entertaining the angels. As for us, his music will remain in our hearts forever. We can learn a lesson from Paul and the children who helped him write that “I’m Thankful” song, and that is that we should give thanks for everything. We so take for granted everything that God gives us.
Verses 4 and 5 of 1 Timothy, chapter 4 are: “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
So what will you be thankful for tomorrow? How about everything? Yes, even the boogers in your nose.
I remember seeing Paul Hill perform 20+ years ago at my school in Maryland, and he came back each year to teach and sing. He was a huge impact on my formative years, and I am so sorry to hear he has passed on. He’s always in my mind and is greatly missed.
Jonathan, thank you for your comment. I agree with you. Paul WILL be greatly missed. What an amazing human being he was… truly a God-send. My husband and I purchased a “cassette tape” (remember those?) at one of his concerts at church and we listened to it everytime we got in the car. Unfortunately, it disappeared when our car got stolen a few years later, but we still sing a lot of the songs. : )
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