New oil painting "Fruitful Vine"
Psalm 128
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

2) your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord."
song in the painting video:
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son...

3) "And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son
(repeat)
Give thanks"

4) I was on P&W team at a church that played this song at the end of every collection offering, so, every week. I had to sing this simple song every week. So, I began to find the song very tedious. But today, years later, it brings tears to my eyes, wish I could go back in time

5) to when I would sing this, in a mid-sized church, with 4 of us on the team& Big Merle singing with his baritone and the guitarist Doug cranky because my daughter and I tangled up the microphones again, and my youngest two kids restless in the pew, waiting for children's time

6) my youngest was preschool age then, and they used a photo of her chubby little hands folded in prayer as the image for "Give Thanks" that showed on the screen during the offering.
So, these memories are filling my heart today- she graduated high school this year...

7) and churches are closed.
What a lovely thing, if I could go back to that time, sing that song again- with a grateful heart, and look to my right to see my oldest singing with me, and look straight ahead to see husband & two fidgety kids. I look forward to better days, America

8) Seasons change. We let go, move on.
I'm grateful for every good and precious thing.
May we be the fruitful vine, that makes a happy home- or appreciative of one who is. Family is a blessing, as is the freedom to enjoy the people we love.
/end thread/