April 17, 2024
Some days we look ahead and wonder, sometimes with worry, how it will all turn out. And then we turn and look back at days, we once worried about, and see that they were filled with blessing upon blessing. That is what today's inspiration is all about.
Day 10 – April 17
Contributed by Warren Ayer & Rev. David O'Brien
My Cup Runneth Over
In a recent conversation in the Coffee Hour David shared his delight in ordering chowder at the No Name Restaurant in Boston. When it came, the bowl was filled to slightly over the brim, so much so that it overflowed at the slightest jostling. But, not to worry, because the bowl came with a saucer.
That saucer caught each jostled drop, preserving it from destruction and allowed David to enjoy his over-filled chowder down to the very last drop!
While I had not partaken of chowder at the No Name Restaurant, I did recall my grandmother drinking her tea from a dainty cup, filled to the very brim, but also equipped with the requisite saucer to catch any rambunctious drops that attempted to escape. And should they do so, she simply drank from the saucer, so as to enjoy her tea to the very last drop!
Drinking From My Saucer
by John Paul Moore
I've never made a fortune
and it is probably too late now
But I don't worry about that much,
I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'cause my cup has overflowed.
I don't have a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loved ones around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong,
my faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.
So God, help me not to gripe
about the tough rows that I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'cause my cup has overflowed.
If God gives me strength and courage,
when the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'cause my cup has overflowed.
Looking Back
President George Washington declared, October 3, 1789:
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will...and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness’..."
“I do recommend...the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the People of these United States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks...for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed... Humbly offering our prayers...to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions.”
May God continue to bless our prayer journey together.
Board of Deacons
United Church of Colchester