Hey, God

[H]ey, God.

I’m just sitting here looking up.

I guess You already know.

I know usually ask a lot of questions at times like these, and I know I hardly ever listen for the answers.

It seems like it’d be a shame to waste this cool breeze and these cricket songs on questions, though.

I just came out here to sit in this chair on the back porch and say thanks.

Thanks for the breath You just gave me, and for all of the ones I’ve taken before.

Thanks for the food I just ate, and for the family who sat around the table.

I know I complain a bunch, but I’m glad You make nights like this so I can be reminded You’re bigger than all of the little things I call problems.

Thanks for the people in the helicopter over my head, and thanks for all of the service members and their selfless sacrifice to keep us free.

Thanks for making sure they won’t miss their next paycheck.

Thanks for the wonderful opportunity you’ve given me to be an American, and for the freedoms I too often take for granted.

Thanks for Your Son, who gave me freedom forever.

Thanks for my job, Lord, and for the months I spent without one.

I appreciate the things You have always taught me about what it means to rely on You when life’s uncertain, and what it means to follow You even when I’m not sure where You’ll lead.

I’m sorry for the times I’ve taken roads I thought would be smoother than the one You wanted me to walk down.

Thanks for all the times You put me back on the right path, and the things You show me along the way.

Thanks for the sunset on the breakwall in Lake Superior, and the one on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Thanks for those sunrises I saw from a plane window, and the ones I watched creep over the chicken houses when I used to get out of bed early enough to take walks.

Thanks for the ability to walk, even though I haven’t figured out how to walk in a straight line yet.

Thanks for all of the doctors, nurses and therapists who made sure I’d be able to take steps.

Thanks for a Mama and a Daddy who wouldn’t let me give up.

Thanks for a sister who’s always been there, and who still loved me even after I almost put her eye out with a plastic boomerang I bought from Bud’s Department Store.

Thanks for two nieces and a nephew. This uncle thing is great.

Thanks for all of my family, and all of my friends.

I couldn’t ask for better.

Thanks for creeks, cane poles and catfish.

Thanks for camping, and the false advertising on that bottle of waterproof tent spray.

Thanks for the idea of homemade sarsaparilla, but not so much for the product.

Thanks for Dr. Pepper. I hope there’s a fountain of it in Heaven.

Thanks for women.

Thanks for mamas who work all day, come home, take care of everybody else with hardly a thought toward themselves, go to bed, get up and do it all again just for the sake of their kids.

They don’t get near enough credit, Lord, but they deserve all of the credit in the world.

Thanks for men who take time to be dads. Thanks for the man who treats his wife like she’s the best thing that ever happened to him, because he knows she is and because he also knows his children will follow his example.

Thanks for all of my teachers, God.

They made more of an impact on me than they’ll ever know. I hope they know they’re appreciated, and I hope today’s teachers know they make a difference every day.

Thanks for coaches who push people to be their best on and off of the field and who answer the phone when sportswriters call.

Thanks for college football and national championships.

I’m sorry about what I said when the last one went into overtime.

Thanks for today.

Thanks for this life.

Thanks for all You’ve done and all You will do for me.

Thanks for listening, and for loving me even though I don’t deserve it.

Thanks for the chance to come out here tonight, sit in this chair on the porch and just look up at the sky.