Tag Archives: 52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #11 – A Token

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #11 – A Token

In Week 11 of 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a token.

“That is so cool!”, I say to my wife as she pulls out her toothbrush.

I’m actually referring to her toothbrush cap that is a svelte transparent capsule with a clean silver inset. It looks like a product that came straight out of the Infinite Loop.

Today—a week or so later, I go to wash my hands and I’m greeted by this shiny capsule and a loving note.

It was the highlight of my week. I felt loved.

The fact that she heard me, she remembered, and took even one step out of her way to do that for me means the world to me. And this is not the first time.

So, when the enemy tries to convince me that I am not loved, I’m going to show him my toothbrush and recall the countless other tokens I’ve been blessed to receive.

While the token is disposable, the meaning is eternal.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG #love #expressions #marriage #perfectourlove

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #10 – What We Still Have

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #10 – What We Still Have

In Week 10 of 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for what we still have.

Earlier this week we received a phone call that makes the heart of every parent drop, “Dad, I’ve been in an accident…”

I thank God that the voice on the other end of the phone was our child. Upon hearing the details of the accident, it easily could have been a different call.

That night could have ended in heartbreak. I can only hope that we could remember God’s goodness in the midst of such unimaginable grief.

Life is a vapor, but God is good all the time.

So, I’m thankful for what we still have.

I intend to make the best of it.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #9 – Constant

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #9 - Constant

In Week 9 of 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for my father’s consistency in honor of his birthday.

There are few constants in this world, and my Dad is one of them.

In a life that can be confusing to navigate, his consistency helps me solve for the variability of the rest.

I’ve tried to pass this on to our sons, teaching them:
“Do what you’ve set out to do regardless of how others act or react.”

I have found that I can navigate virtually anything with anyone when there’s something to come back to that does not move.

Thank you for being that for me, Dad.

I hope to honor you by being that for others so that this value I’ve received from you remains

Constant.

Happy Birthday.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #8 – The Questions

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #8 - The Questions

In Week 8 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for the questions.

My pastor, mentor, and spiritual father, Dr. Gregory Wilson Jones, did not just tell us what Scripture said; he constantly asked us what Scripture said.

First, he made sure we were reading, and second, he ensured we were engaged with Scripture by asking questions that made us wrestle with and explain its meaning in our own words.

Dr. Jones did not just lead Bible class, he taught Bible courses! There was literally a syllabus for each series and everyone received a printed outline for each class. He taught hefty theological concepts but in a way anyone could relate to. I remember many nights where children were sincerely engaged, asking wonderful questions during our discussions.

Dr. Jones understood that growth comes from challenges that are indicated by questions rather than from comfort that results from being spoon-fed.

Oh, how I love that man and miss him.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #7 – My Person

In Week 7 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for “my person”.

It’s conference season and this week my wife and I had a happy happenstance where we had conferences in the same city on the same day. So, we got to travel and room together.

We also have an upcoming conference where the other gets to tag along. We had a little tiff because there was yet another conference for the very next week but I couldn’t attend. I was like, “Babe, I want to, but I can’t be away from the office that long!” 🤣

I thought about this as we were traveling recently. We weren’t doing anything special this go round, no flights, no fancy restaurants, just a basic road trip. We simply wanted to be around each other. That’s not a small thing and I’m extremely thankful for it.

To have someone I want to be with who wants to be with me (today 🤣) makes me very happy.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #6 – A New Generation

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #6 – A New Generation

In Week 6 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a new generation.

My nephew and I were out one Saturday and happened upon a car broken down in the middle of traffic. There’s a young man driving with several other young men in the car.

You could see in their faces they weren’t sure what to do. So, my nephew and I stopped to see if we could at least help to push them out of traffic. As it turns out, their car, a 2013 Ford Escort, has a shift lock mechanism that prevents the car from being put into neutral if it doesn’t crank (darn new-fangled doohickeys).

As we’re figuring out how to disengage the shift lock and get the car in neutral, the driver, a young man by the name of Jeremiah (who is no more than 16) introduces himself to my nephew. He engages in conversation, sharing that he and the young men that were with him were on the way to a baby shower. He asks my nephew, “Are you a new student at State? What are you studying?”

Then Jeremiah says (as we’re all standing closely around a car in the middle of traffic), “Man, it’s great to meet you. I really appreciate your help today. If you don’t have a church home, I invite you to come hang with me at Peter’s Rock.”

I could have swallowed my head I was grinning so wide at this young black man’s poise, confidence, boldness and willingness in his witness.

Though this young man didn’t know what to do about the car, he fully understood the ultimate assignment.

In the words of KB,
“They say [young people] are leaving God.
I just smiled, like, ‘You really need to see the squad.'”
-From the song, “We right here”

God is doing something
in every generation.
(1 John 2:13-14)

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #5 – A Co-laborer

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #5 – A Co-laborer

In Week 5 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a co-laborer.

A man walks up to me in the gym and says, “I want you to know that I love your heart for the Lord and I want to encourage you to continue doing what you’re doing.”

We go on to talk about how we’re called to snatch each other as fellow believers out of the fire (Jude 1:23), but what stuck with me was his exhortation to do so with grace—expounding that it’s initially jarring to any of us to be faced with the prospect that we may be engaged in idolatry. “None of us wants to believe we have an idol and it takes us a second to come to terms with it.”

That man’s name was Joseph Horan. He’s a pastor at Bridgeway that I met through a men’s prayer group that goes to every school in our city and county, and prays for the teachers, staff, students and their families.

While that men’s group started with prayer, I’m delighted to testify that’s not where it’s ended. From that has sprung mentoring efforts, joint fellowship between churches, and meaningful relationships—communion. And its fruit is playing out in our interaction in the gym.

Moments after Joseph walked off, another man who overheard our conversation asked me about my faith, shared how he hasn’t been to church in years, how he wants to connect and shared his phone number.

This is The Way.

It’s the only way. And Joseph’s act of goodwill was deeply encouraging especially in our current climate. It reminded me of 1 Kings 19:18 where God said He had reserved for Himself thousands who had not bowed and who were not serving the idol of the times.

Joseph Horan reminded me that I am not alone. I am not the only one fighting for communion.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #4 – A Welcome Visit

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #4 - A Welcome Visit

In Week 4 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a welcome visit.

Sunday night I receive a text, “Hey Uncle Paul, I was wondering if I can come over there tomorrow and we can watch the college football national championship together”

My nephew is a son to me. He is so dear to me. Of all the things he could be doing, to think he’d want to spend time with here with us…

It brings tears to my eyes, even now.

Because there’s no where I’d rather be.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #3 – Our Sons’ Honor

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #2 - Our Sons Honor

In Week 3 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for our sons’ honor.

This past week, we celebrated our queen’s birthday.

Without my prompting, knowledge, or involvement, our sons coordinated all the moving pieces that made for a beautiful weekend. They demonstrated attentiveness and a keen understanding of their mother by cooking meals she loved.

We talked, laughed and enjoyed each other’s company all weekend long, interspersed with delicious food lovingly prepared.

It was already a gift to have our loved ones with us, but to have them near and loving on each other as a celebration of a beloved’s life… well, there’s no greater honor.

Seeing the men our children have become, as evidenced by how they honored the first lady of their life, fills me with great joy and hope.

I’m grateful.

#52WoG

52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #2 – A Walk With Mom

Paul Luckett | Brainflurry.com - 52 Weeks Of Gratefulness #2 – A Walk With Mom

In Week 2 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks to God for a walk with Mom.

We took a long, nice walk in the pasture.

Mom recounted where the family garden was, how much fun she and her brothers and sisters had in the loft of the barn, where she hopes to build one day.

We capped it off by visiting with my aunts and uncles who all shared their own stories. It was a stroll back to a beautiful time with the most beautiful soul I know.

The best things in life are free.

I’m grateful.

#52wog