Meeting God over Morning Coffee
In many Yemeni homes the morning begins with a cup of coffee and a short moment of quiet before the day gets busy. That small moment can become an appointment with God: a time to say to him, before anything else, “Thank you.” Not because life is easy, but because God still makes the sun rise over Yemen and its people, and over you, wherever you are.
The apostle Paul says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Notice that he said “in all circumstances”. God does not ask you to thank him for injustice or pain, but to thank him while you are in the middle of them, because he is present with you and he does not change.
Thanksgiving does not cancel grief or deny hardship, but it opens your eyes to small gifts you would otherwise pass by without seeing: a fresh breath, a piece of bread, a friend who asks after you, a word from the Bible that strengthens you. Over time, thanksgiving turns from a word you say into a new way of seeing your life.
Putting It into Practice
- Tomorrow morning, before your first sip, tell God three things you are thankful for, however small.
- If your day holds a heavy load, tell him honestly: “Thank you that you are with me in this,” then tell him what you need.
- At the end of the day, remember one gift in which you saw God's hand, and thank him for it. If you want to write it down, keep it somewhere that will not put you at risk.