Giving Thanks: A Poem

"Lord, it is good to be here!"

May 19, 2023

lighted candles on brown cake — Photo by Lan Gao on Unsplash

It's been a busy week!

Goodnight, Child of God was sent to press! As I shared in the last post, the book should be available in the fall. The final version of the book has exceeded my wildest dreams and I’m incredibly excited to share it with you and for children and families to hear the hopeful message of the book!
We celebrated my birthday this week! I’m grateful to celebrate another year and for the life God has given me. In today's poem, Giving Thanks, I reflect on the gift of life and my desire to respond in love to all the many blessings I have been given.

“Lord, it is good to be here!”

The late Fr. Alexander Schmemman, after offering thanks to God, ended his final sermon1 with the words “Lord, it is good to be here! Amen.” His words echo the beautiful Orthodox prayer service “The Akathist of Thanksgiving,”2 which includes the line “How lovely it is to be Thy guest!3”

These words are such simple, profound confessions of the goodness of the life God has given us. We witness His hospitality daily as we are the benefactors of His mercy and love as we live as part of the world He lovingly created.

“The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”
Psalm 24:1 ESV

Lord, it is good to be here and to be your guest. As I celebrate my birthday, I humbly pray for many more years on this earth to both allow my heart to be conformed to the mind of Christ and to pursue the dreams God has placed in my heart with the talents He has given me.

Beauty surrounds us at every moment and through my writing and creative works, I will continue to strive to craft and share beautiful things. Whether I live for another year or half a century more, I want to share hope and joy with gratitude and urgency. My time on earth will come to an end. When I answer for my life, I want to have lived with purpose and used what God has given me in the service of others.

This desire shapes my role as a husband and father, my professional career, and my writing and creative projects. I am a steward of all I have been given and my desire is to put all my efforts into offering these gifts to others for the glory of God!

Thank you, Lord, for this life you have given me.

Giving Thanks

persons hand on brown grass field during daytime — Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

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Lord, how good it is to be your guest
To labor with hands you have blessed
In awe at the cosmos in marvelous array
I stand as clay the Potter imbued with breath 

In a season I shall fall as the grains afield
Yet the ground a greater fruit shall yield 
When night is cast out by eternal day
Beckoning me by my true name revealed

Until that final hour has swiftly arrived
Serving in love those I humbly walk beside
I'll stand and where I'm planted stay
In the life of the True Vine I shall abide

For on me your kindness has been shown
The grace and mercy of life daily bestowed
Let my heart today give thanks and praise
To my Lord who calls me one of His own

Thank you for reading!

As I begin another year, my prayer is my joyful work as a writer is only just beginning.

There are stories waiting to be told to awaken our hearts to the wonder around us and encourage us, for the temporary darkness surrounding us will not prevail against the light of the eternal dawn. I want to tell these stories and bring together others who are seeking to shine the same light. Together, we sing as a chorus whose voices fill the heavens with a symphony of beautiful thanksgiving.

As we get closer to the release of Goodnight, Child of God, I will share ways you can help spread the word about the book and details about a book launch event that is in the works!

I am so grateful God allowed our paths to cross and that you are here with me on this journey! I could not do this without your support and encouragement. Thank you!

With gratitude,

Drew Chancey