#BTColumn – Giving thanks this Independence

In a week’s time we will be celebrating Barbados’ 54th Year of Independence. We celebrate having come this far, these many years, without any major turmoil or disaster which we were not able to overcome. We are blessed as a nation and we give thanks!

Of course, we should always celebrate the fact that God is still “on the people’s side.”  And He will always be if we ask Him and trust Him. This has been pivotal in our survival and success as an independent nation.

Other countries may recognize whatever god they choose. But as it stands presently, the majority of Barbadians still worship Jehovah God as the country’s guide and ultimate leader. We pray that it will always be that way.

Also on our 54th year of Independence, we celebrate the fact that we have been blessed by God with great leaders from either sides of the political aisle. To be sure, they had their faults as human beings. But if we are honest, we would have to testify that there were inspiring and visionary leaders who put Barbados first before self-interest. Their desires and goals were to push the nation forward by building a Barbados that was strong politically, socially and economically!

When we view many other countries around the world with weak or tyrannical leadership, we have to acknowledge that we are a blessed nation, and we give thanks!

We give thanks also for the natural things over which we have no control. Things that most people – Christian or otherwise – would say are definitely under God’s purview. Take the weather, for example, and the consistent rainfall in the month of November. God sends His rain in due season. He decides when we will have rain or sunshine on any given day. Certainly, we are glad for the rain now, since earlier in the year we experienced drought conditions across the island.

We remember God’s promise after the Flood, and we are grateful. “As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” (Genesis 8:22, New Living Translation)

Of course, with the annual threat of hurricanes, we thank the Lord for protecting us year after year. We continue to pray that He will do the same for our neighbouring islands.

And how can we not acknowledge the Lord’s blessings during the coronavirus epidemic? We have not been adversely affected by it. We give God thanks. This is our God who reigns over heaven and earth – whom we adore and praise at this time of national celebration!

We hold on to another promise found in Psalm 33:12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (KJV)

We also say with confidence verses 20-22: “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.” (NLT)

On this 54th year of nationhood, we know we are blessed and we give thanks.

Happy Independence, Barbados!