In this day and age there seems to be few occurrences for moments of thankfulness. We are on a quest for always wanting more,
More time, more space, more friends, more family.
And on and on it goes.
We are easily irritated and rushed.
But gratefulness, I think breaks the back of the incessant need for more which can often bring dissatisfaction...
Let me share a little bit of a personal testimony on this journey of learning about gratefulness.
During a time of great loss in my life;
I lost some of my nearest and dearest family members.
In those days the most difficult moments of the year were the holiday seasons when I felt very alone and it seemed like I had nothing.
My focus was on the loss....which was very real and very painful...
I would then take long walks and talk to the One, who it turns out, understands loss, because well you know the story.....
"He gave His only begotten son to be crucified and to die for my sins and to free me from death and the grave to give me eternal life..."
.... Hmmmm
I think He gets it, I thought to myself.
So any advice He had to give me would come from a place of honesty and real life experience because
He had experienced loss(!)
And as I walked and talked to Him
this is what He told me:
"Instead of focusing on your loss why not start to enjoy what you do have; like your family and your children and the ones that are still with you"
Huh....I thought to myself
I've known this truth somewhere in the back of my mind.
But that day it became my new reality and a life saver.
Being grateful for what I do have versus what I don't have, enriched my life!
So when the Holidays rolled around I was just thankful for what I was blessed with.
In this season of Thanksgiving
Let's be intentional about remembering the good.
This passage expresses it best:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Philippians 4:8
More time, more space, more friends, more family.
And on and on it goes.
We are easily irritated and rushed.
But gratefulness, I think breaks the back of the incessant need for more which can often bring dissatisfaction...
Let me share a little bit of a personal testimony on this journey of learning about gratefulness.
During a time of great loss in my life;
I lost some of my nearest and dearest family members.
In those days the most difficult moments of the year were the holiday seasons when I felt very alone and it seemed like I had nothing.
My focus was on the loss....which was very real and very painful...
I would then take long walks and talk to the One, who it turns out, understands loss, because well you know the story.....
"He gave His only begotten son to be crucified and to die for my sins and to free me from death and the grave to give me eternal life..."
.... Hmmmm
I think He gets it, I thought to myself.
So any advice He had to give me would come from a place of honesty and real life experience because
He had experienced loss(!)
And as I walked and talked to Him
this is what He told me:
"Instead of focusing on your loss why not start to enjoy what you do have; like your family and your children and the ones that are still with you"
Huh....I thought to myself
I've known this truth somewhere in the back of my mind.
But that day it became my new reality and a life saver.
Being grateful for what I do have versus what I don't have, enriched my life!
So when the Holidays rolled around I was just thankful for what I was blessed with.
In this season of Thanksgiving
Let's be intentional about remembering the good.
This passage expresses it best:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Philippians 4:8
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