“Thank You”

     On October 3, 1996 God blessed our family with our baby, Jordan Allen McDonald.  Our family had become five and everyone was full of joy for the precious gift of Jordan.  We offered thanks to God for giving us our third and last child.  Over the next 27 years and nine months we witnessed our baby grow into being a man with a grateful, kind, and loving heart.

     Jordan’s spirit of always giving thanks to us after every meal should be an example for all of us.  There wasn’t a time that we can remember that he didn’t say thank you for the food.  Every time we went out to lunch he would say, “Thanks for lunch.”  If we didn’t go with him and he ate out on his own he would come in and say, “Thanks for letting me use your card.”  Even when he ate something his mom prepared at home, he would thank her for the meal.  He didn’t have to thank us for the food, but that is who he was a person with a grateful heart.  He would always thank us no matter what the gift: clothing, gasoline, ice cream or a vacation.  His heart overflowed with thanksgiving.  In all of our lives, we have never met anyone who was so thankful.

     There’s a lot of grumbling, complaining and squawking about what is happening in this country and in this world.  God hears all of that negative noise, but seldom does God hear the humble person giving thanks for the blessing of life itself.  When was the last time you gave thanks to someone for a random act of kindness or a smile or an encouraging word?  I pray that the words “thank you” roll off of your tongues as frequently as they rolled off of our son’s tongue.

     Everyday God offers his blessings to us.  Do we stop to thank God for His Son who died on the cross to save us from our sin?  Do we stop to thank God that we live in a country where we can actually elect our own President and Congress people?  Do we stop to thank God that we can gather with family on a day we call Thanksgiving and enjoy good food and one another’s company?

     We were truly blessed by God with the gift of Jordan.  He brought so much love, laughter, and life to our family.  Our loss of Jordan is excruciatingly painful and our hearts are forever broken.  We miss him deeply and fervently pray for that day when we will be reunited and made whole once again.

     From the bottom of our hearts and in the spirit of Jordan we give thanks to you, Glen Burnie United Methodist Church, for your generosity, cards and prayers that offered love to our family.

                                                                Love,

                                                     Pastor Ken and Kim