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In marriage counseling sessions recently I’ve come to realize how little we do together when we are together.  Couples complain that “we don’t spend enough time together!”

After a few minutes of discussion the obvious becomes obvious.  Most couples are together in the same room or the same building or the same vicinity for extended periods of time each day.  But when confronted about how long they spend together each day, the tally is often perceived as only mere minutes, if at all.

So, what are we really saying when we say “we don’t really spend time together?”  How do you understand this statement?

In a gesture of good will, our local Extra Foods has been allowing us to bring our own bags for grocery shopping – and even reward us!  The number of bags that we have brought to use is charged to the bill and then debited off the bill.  In that way, we receive “points” based on the original charge. 

At least, that’s my understanding.

Today, the amount was charged, but the cashier could not debit the charge afterwards (didn’t have automatic authorization). 

As we see it, we were charged a penny for each bag that we brought!  The store did not sell us a bag.  The store did not provide a bag for us. 

We brought the bag.  And we were charged for bringing the bag (OK, our helpful cashier was able to void the charge with a little direction from us).

So now, instead of receiving a reward for bringing our own bags, we are penalized, and charged money for bags that we own.

Something doesn’t seem right here!

Steve Bell – musician, Canadian, Christian.

I met Steve more than a decade ago when we ran an arts show called “Circling the Son.”  He sang, spoke, and generally charmed us all as a soft spoken, opinionated, loveable, down home gentleman.  Some of our church people became constant followers – and still do to this day.

So, it was no surprise to me when a cancer patient took to memory and heart one of the songs he sang (written by Gord Johnson). 

In the morning Lord we do look to you for the strength we need just to make it through, have mercy.  In the evening Lord we look back and say it was in your strength that we made our way, have mercy.  You are our everything we need, feed us Lord.

Check out the version he does with Fresh I.E. (folk meets hip hop).

Everything We Need – Steve Bell & Fresh I.E. 

Sometimes we need to have larger issues – suffering, poverty, discrimination – to point out to us how thankful we should be when life is comfortable.  Too often we become grumblers over issues that are so small ants could carry them away.  After we pile up our dislikes and interruptions and petty concerns, we begin to think we are hard done by.

And then the big issues strike. 

I want to be like a cancer patient I know who has carefully guarded her own heart to remain thankful in all things.  Good for the soul and the body!!

I want to learn to be thankful in all things.  Good for my soul and my body!!