Are You Thankful?

This seems like a rather predictable title for a blog during the week of Thanksgiving. But I want to ask a different question than the one that you may be anticipating. I’m not asking what you are thankful for. Rather, I’m asking if you are a thankful person? We will all give thanks in some way on Thanksgiving. It seems unChristian and un-American to not do so. But far fewer of us practice an attitude of thankfulness throughout the year. An attitude of thankfulness appreciates the small things in life. It looks for the positives in the midst of situations that aren’t so positive. It expresses appreciation for other people. It conveys a joyful and hopeful spirit that is contagious for everyone that it touches. I will admit that this doesn’t come naturally for me. I have to work at it. Far too often, I see the glass as half empty. I forget to celebrate a victory because I’m too busy pressing ahead to the next challenge. And yet God has been working on me and has given me some glimpses into how I can live with an attitude of thankfulness. When my daughter’s car broke down on the way to school the other day, my immediate reaction was frustration. I had a busy day ahead and this was going to force me to miss at least one meeting. Then God reminded me of the positives: she was safe, the problem with the car was minor, I have a trusted mechanic, I was in town rather than traveling. So I gave thanks for these things. During a recent run, I was moaning (to myself) about the reality of an aging body that can’t do what it did 20 years ago. Then God reminded me to be thankful for great health and for the ability to run at all, and from there He continued to bring things to mind for which I needed to give thanks. I know that these two personal incidents are minor inconveniences at best. Some of you are dealing with terribly difficult circumstances in your personal or professional lives. I’ve had difficult seasons, and I know that it’s not easy to be thankful when your world is crumbling around you. And yet Paul instructs that “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil 4:7). My real focus in writing this blog, however, is those of us who tend to let one small event become a dark cloud over the entire day. If that’s you, let me encourage you to not just give thanks on Thursday, but to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness that is never-ending. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes, for you and those around you. It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>