By Gina Caswell Kelly
Many times, we look at our lives and think we do not have much for which to be thankful. We look around and all we see are our problems and the things we wish could be different. We look and see hopelessness all around us. We see illness and death. We see grief and longing for a life we once had, or the life we thought we would have. As it gets to be Thanksgiving, with Christmas soon to follow, we sometimes kind of let ourselves get into a bit of a funk. We watch all the Hallmark movies and see a life that just seems too good to be true, (and it is) and a life that is just magical where everything works out in the end, just as the snow begins to fall!
As Christians, we need to learn to look at the world through the eyes of our Maker. Eyes that see the good around us in all things. But, also eyes that see those who are hurting and suffering. We need to have eyes that look with gratitude at the blessings, both big and small, in our lives. There are blessings all around us. We just have to pay attention.
God gave us several verses in His Word to remind us to be grateful. Paul writes in Colossians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Also in Colossians, Paul writes, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Now think about Paul, much of his writings in God’s Word were done while he was sitting in prisons. Nasty, horrible, smelly, rat infested, cold prisons. And yet he could be thankful.
Many of our Psalms were written by David while he was on the run for his life from the crazed King Saul. But even in the times of fearing for his very life, David writes with a grateful heart his praise to his God.
“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.”
I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.”
“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
The point of all this is to say, we are not likely experiencing near the hardships that these two faithful men of God were experiencing. Can we not find a spot in our hearts for thankfulness to God for the very gift of life? Can we not, as David did, remember all the great things He has done for us and be thankful? Can we not look at our lives and be grateful that God would send His very own Son to die for our sins?
Oh my goodness! He has done great things! A thankful heart can make a difference!