Throughout scripture there is much to be said for being grateful; for giving thanks.
Psalms 118:24 – This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
It’s hard to remember sometimes that even in the darkest moment, there is much to be grateful for. As I consider the season of Thanksgiving that we are entering into – One Thousand Gifts – one book I have yet to read. As I listen to the tumult in my house right now I consider what I have to be thankful for. In all the chaos, in the cries of our daughter, the impatience of my husband and the determination of my boys to color their pictures and “be a hero” before bedtime….Finding something to be thankful for can seem impossible, at best, some days.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Three things I can be thankful for. As I look around at the mess which is home I think of how blessed we are to have it. Safe and warm; dry and cozy it is more than enough. Glory to God. We had a nice warm stew for dinner – praise God for providing food enough to nourish and sustain us (in a time when all the littles are ill and the momma is less than up to par herself). What else? I have Jesus. No matter what we may or may not have, I have Him and that means I have all that I need. For He gives and He takes away but He is the one who knows just what we need and makes sure we always have…Enough. HalleluYah.
James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
I don’t know about you but I can always it never hurts to practice a bit more thanks giving in life. And not just in the month of November. In the craziness of life; in the mess of the flesh isn’t it so true that we can forget how blessed we are? I pray that in this Giving Thanks Challenge I can not only remember those blessings which I have forgotten but I can also see blessings where I did not before. What a wonderful time to train my mind and heart to see Him in ALL things, in ALL times.
Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
When I think of gratitude I think of acts; verbalizations – a show of some sort – one to another in appreciation for a gift, a kind word or deed. This includes the willingness and eagerness to show appreciation; a gentle and gracious joy one to another. Am I thankful? In my daily life, I fear I far too often see the storm and forget about the rainbow that I can not yet see. I pray the Lord will give me faith and strength, more each day, to stand in the storm and yet see the joys and the blessings within.
My husband may be impatient with the children BUT he is a loving father; he works hard to provide for us ALL our needs and lots of things we do not need (we are somewhat spoiled lol). My children may be sick and crabby, loud and boisterous but they are all healthy and loving; they are active and loving of the Lord (each in their own way). I may want a perfectly tidy and quiet home BUT I have a small and cozy home that is warm and full of the signs of love and life and learning every day. It will not last forever. One day they will be grown. I am blessed beyond measure in this alone.
In these coming days let us consider what it means to be grateful; what it means to give thanks. And let us look always for those things that we should be thankful for. How do you see gratitude in your life? Count your blessings with me.
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Thank you for linking up with the Giving Thanks Challenge. these are all great verses for giving thanks and they have convicted me at some point along my journey. In EVERYTHING give thanks is a hard one but one that I have been trying to remember when things don’t go the way that I would like them to. Looking forward to visiting you more often! God bless!