May Jesus Christ be Praised

My friend is living in such difficult circumstances: her husband just died, her daughter's struggling with mental illness, she can't afford to stay in her home so she has to move. And yet she emails me: "May Jesus Christ be praised." Where did she learn to praise the Lord even in the midst of such discouraging circumstances? She's putting me to shame.

The hymn writer in 1734 captures her spirit beautifully and his words convict me of extent to which I have become a "beautiful morning only" praise person. If it's cloudy, and the sunrise is gray, all I feel like doing is complaining. I want to see the beautiful colors light up the sky.

1. When morning gilds the skies,
   My heart awaking cries:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   
   
2. Does sadness fill my mind?
3. A solace here I find,
4. May Jesus Christ be praised!
5. Or fades my earthly bliss?
6. My comfort still is this,
7. May Jesus Christ be praised!
8. The night becomes as day when from the heart we say: May Jesus Christ be praised!
9. In heav’n’s eternal bliss, the loveliest strain is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!
10. Let earth, and sea, and sky from depth to height reply, May Jesus Christ be praised!
11. 
    

I can see that I need to develop a regular habit of praising the Lord and I need to broaden my vocabulary. What did the pilgrims praise God for on that first Thanksgiving after a year of unspeakable hardships? If the only things I know how to praise the Lord for are His blessings, how will I ever find a place of gratitude when difficulties come?

1. 
   

>