April 4, 2016

Choose Gratitude

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Ware you thankful for today? I asked someone that yesterday. The woman was complaining and complaining. I was trying to refocus her mind.

Her answer? “I guess that I’m alive today.” She couldn’t come up with anything else. How sad!

I’ll ask you the same question: What are you thankful for today? Get specific. Did you have food to eat? Great! What was the best thing? Was it Pecan Pie or Loaded Baked Potato Soup or fresh green beans and potatoes? Maybe it was ice cream or potato chips. Whatever it was, give God thanks for it.

There are so many things in our daily lives that we simply take for granted. Our health, for example. Or the ability to see a doctor when we need to. Some people don’t have either and ours could go away in moment. Why do we have to wait until it’s gone until we appreciate what we had?

Do you have a safe place to live? Count your blessings. Many hard working people struggle to have a roof over their heads, food on the table, health care, clothing and toys for their kids. The basics. And, yes, for all you that like to point fingers, most of them work one or two jobs seven days a week.

I’m thankful for a vehicle to drive. I’m thankful for satellite television. I’ve thankful for multiple Bibles. I’m thankful for books to read. I’m thankful for the sun that was so beautiful and bright today. And, yes, I’m thankful for my family and friends. I’m grateful for these two dogs that slumber nearby. I am amazed forever that God loves me and claims me as His own.

There are so many things to be thankful for each and every day. So why do we -- and we all do this sometimes -- focus on the negative? Why do we choose to see what we don’t have instead of what we do have?

We think we can someone fill ourselves up with something that will make us happy. Or maybe we’ve been unhappy for so long that we don’t know how to be anything else. Attitude is contagious. That’s how the saying goes. What does your attitude say about you? Are you negative and ungrateful? Or do you thank God for every good thing He does for you?

Choose to be grateful. You’ll be amazed at good it makes you feel.