Thankfulness...

In this month of Thanksgiving, I find myself seeking an "attitude of gratitude." So often I go through my days complaining or feeling stressed. I forget to look for God's blessings in my life. Thankfulness is a conscious decision to be made daily.

Psalm 136:1 (NIV) "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever."
Ephisians 5:20 (NIV) "...always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I set out at the beginning of November with a challenge...to find something to be grateful for each and every day of this month. It's not as easy as it sounds, especially when you've reached number eleven. I guess that's why they call it a challenge.

(If you would like to read my gratitude posts, you can check out my personal blog here.)


Some days it just seems impossible to find something to be grateful for. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, in the amplified bible, it says, "Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Reveraler and Mediator of that will]." 


Really? In everything give thanks? Was God serious? How could I have a grateful heart when I'm cleaning up after my sick child at 2am? What is so gracious about that? A dear friend, and MOPS Coordinator Jennifer Speulstra, sent her Steering Team this note one early morning last February:

'It's 1:50am and I was lying in bed feeling so...un-needed. You see, I was woken up by the sound of every one of us moms dread--the puking sound. "Not again," I thought. "Second kid in a few days."

Well, my husband beat me out of bed. It was my oldest son. He was at the toilet being sick like...well, not like a little kid. No messy sheets, clothes, or carpets--not even a toilet seat to clean. He flushed and washed his hands. He didn't even need to be told to do that. 

 I know, I am thankful. Yet, I am also reminded of how fleeting the time is. I remember the years (yes, years) of virtually being home-bound with this sick little boy. Up all night with him for asthma treatments. Cold after cold after cold. Church on Sunday, sick on Tuesday. Those days were so long. How I thought they would never end. I'm lying here tonight, unable to sleep, seeing that they are ending.  

Enjoy this season you are in. Before you know it, you will have a child who doesn't even wake you up when he's sick, because he doesn't need you like he once did just a short time ago. Those days do not in fact last forever. I know older moms had told me that, but I didn't believe them.

Well, I hear him up again being sick. I better go be there, just in case he needs me. At least tomorrow I know that my very big "little" boy will want lots of cuddles. I will always be here for that.'

So you see, you can find thankfulness even at those times when it would not seem possible.

I believe gratitude is a way of life. To have an attitude of thankfulness about everything, even the mundane, can bring joy. Nehemiah 8:10 "...for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

When I am folding that fourth load of laundry, or doing yet another load of dishes, I try to be thankful at that moment. Because it's not what I am doing, it's how and why I am doing it. If you look at it as a chore, it's going to feel that way. Isn't man's chief end to glorify God and love him forever? (Thomas Watson)

I challenge you to look upon your daily tasks with a change of heart...with a heart of gratitude. When you fold that next basket of clothes, think on how many are without warm clothes this winter. When you wash that next dish, think about how many are hungry or literally starving. When you sweep your kitchen floor, thank God that you have a safe home for your family.

It might seem a bit cliche, but I assure you, when you start to think about what other's don't have, you are more grateful for what you have. A heart of gratitude will bring you joy, even in the mundane tasks that you face. 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God."

Give thanks in everything, every day. Show the people in your life your gratitude. Ask God to give you a thankful heart. You can read about gratitude until your eyes bug out, but it's your heart that needs to change...and only God can do that. Don't forget the power of prayer!

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."