Why Am I Grateful?

Marilynn James - Grateful & Joyful

In May 2025, my husband, Darnell, and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary by going on an Eastern Caribbean cruise. We visited St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas, accompanied by six family members and a family friend.

As I packed for the trip, memories flooded my mind and heart about the last forty years. I reflected on how much time has passed and how life in America, as well as around the world, has changed significantly over these past two generations.

I also thought about the family and friends we have lost. Darnell’s father, Earl, passed away just a few months after we got married. We both miss him dearly; he was very handy and taught Darnell many useful household tricks. I am grateful to have met him; he was warm and welcoming toward me as his daughter-in-law. He was a model for how people can be treated.

My grandmother, Blanche, lived to be ninety-five. She was a determined woman who planted an extensive garden in Arkansas after moving back there in the 1960s. When she sold her house in 1996, she briefly lived with us. Our son, Dwight, and she would always vie for the TV remote, making deals that required Dwight to warm her lunch in the microwave since she could not understand how to use it.

Darnell’s mother, Flossie, has also passed away. She was an extraordinary mother-in-law and grandmother with over twenty grandchildren. Each Thanksgiving, she baked everyone’s favorite dessert along with her other holiday preparations.

My dad, Gordon, never woke up from kidney surgery in 2005, leaving us stunned. I coped with this loss using Psalm 139:16: "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." This helped me realize that God gives life, and the length of our days is assigned before we are born. Though I often wished to know the length of

his days, I understand that this was not for me to know.

Our family friend, Tony, was hospitalized for an extended period. He and his wife, Elisabeth, were always generous people, and I witnessed God's faithfulness to her during that challenging time. Various churches and people, many of whom she did not know, offered her rides to the hospital. This situation reminds me of the Scripture from Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For with the measure, you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return." I saw this principle in action, which was truly encouraging even amid such a grave situation.

Shortly after, my mom, Effie, fell ill. I recognized the importance of annual health screenings and learned how to maintain faith when I saw her unresponsive. That day, I prayed for seven and a half (7.5) hours straight. I also reached out to friends across the USA who were devoted to prayer, asking them to assist me in prayer. Eventually, she awoke and asked for food! God heard our prayers! Weeks later, she shared with me that she was unaware that I would persist praying in faith like that and that she could hear my voice, even though she could not respond. James 5:16 was truly in effect that day: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

I am still reflecting on God's divine supply for every need that my husband, children, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and I have had. I do proclaim His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness at night, just as Psalm 92:2 says.

God has been present in every trouble that we faced, as Psalm 46:1 reminds us. His healing, protection, and provisions are phenomenal. I can specify how He proved remarkable during the

2025 school bomb threat, navigating falls and head contusions, walking home from work during the city protests when all transit options like buses, trains, and Uber shut down. We also dealt with parked car theft and multiple layoff periods, yet through it all, I witnessed God's steadfast presence and support in our lives. He was never late!!

I avoid complaining, dwelling on, or ruminating about what hasn’t gone my way. Why? Because God is a good God. In my younger years, I struggled to see positive aspects in inconvenient or undesirable situations. Now that I've reached forty years of marriage, I am grateful to be here, counting my blessings one by one. As the song says, "It will surprise you what the Lord has done.", Bing Videos.

I stand in awe, knowing that "goodness and mercy (His unfailing love)" have followed my family, friends, and me throughout our lives, as stated in Psalm 23:6. We have an opportunity to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. God is gracious to us all.

Calls to Action:

1. Write five reasons why you are grateful.

2. Purchase "Fully Persuaded Faith" for more prayer answers at: https://www.marilynnjames.com.