A friend posted a poster on Facebook, which read, “What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?” It stopped me dead in my tracks!
For a moment I had to stop and think about what yesterday was like for me. Was it a day I felt close to God and all warm and fuzzy, or was it one of my bad days when everything and everyone annoyed me? Was I happy and pleased with life (grateful) or was I a bit on the whining side, complaining, seeing only the bad things of the day (ungrateful)?
Did I wake up glad for another day, or climbed out on the
wrong side of the bed? I really had to ask myself, “What was my attitude like
during the day?” I needed to take stock of what I would have today, or better
yet—what wouldn’t I have?
I have never lived without these things, but for some reason
I thank God daily for being able to take a shower, and indoor plumbing that
works—so a working bathroom I would have. I would have the internet and computer.
Not that I am so enamored with the internet, but I use them both for my writing
and communication for business. I hate when either is down for any reason, so
it has become customary to thank God when my computer boots up and the internet
connects. I would have food…but how much more?
Suddenly it dawned on me, “Stop focusing on what you would
have and start thinking more about what you wouldn’t have!”
It’s possible I might not have any grandchildren. I don’t
remember thanking God for them yesterday—in fact I was complaining in my spirit
about how noisy they were being. I was also a little miffed with my oldest
daughter because she said she was going to do something and didn’t do it. I’m pretty
sure I didn’t thank God for her; it was probably more me complaining about her
to Him.
Though I would have a bedroom, computer, internet and food,
I might find myself in a room without a roof, or on the grass without four
walls.
There’s the possibility I would no longer have any friends?
Did I thank Him for my friends who love me deeply or was it just the ones I’ve
made on Facebook?
Would I be blind and unable to hear? I know I complained
about noise, versus thanking Him for ears to hear. I might have even complained
for a minute when the “High Def” froze for a few seconds while I was watching a
movie, instead of thanking Him for eyes to see and the blessing to be able to
watch movies.
Truth is….if God had decided to only give me that which I
thanked Him for the day before; I would have so little compared to yesterday.
The loss would be such that it could crush me. It might look a lot like that of
Job when he lost almost everything that was dear to him.
I wonder if I failed to thank Him yesterday for giving me a
new day, would that be the end of life for me?
No today for me? Hum!
Sisters we need to go over I
Thessalonians 5:16-18, with a fine toothed comb and get serious about what
it says! “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything
give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Anyone who knows me personally knows I do
not like to dust!! I had to dust my mother’s house like a maid, and since I
received no reward for it (not even a “Good job”) I started to despise it at an
early age. So, here I am many years later, still talking about how I don’t like
to dust.
Yesterday I had to dust and vacuum and I
remember complaining to myself because my youngest left a few things out of
order running out the house at 5am to catch a plane. So, would I not have all
the furniture in that room? Or even her?
Today is my last day of saying, “I don’t
like to dust!” It will go something like this instead, “Though dusting is not
fun for me, I am ever grateful to have things to dust! I am grateful to be able
to see the dust, and two working hands to remove it! Lord, I thank you!”
Sisters, what would you find yourself without?
Would you be alone? No husband, no kids? Would you be sitting on an empty lot,
where your house once stood? That car you constantly complain about (though it
runs), would it be gone? What about the job you begged God for? Would you still
have it or would you find yourself unemployed?
It’s important for us to get a handle on
our “thanksgiving” and or “ungratefulness”!
On any given day, we can forget to be
grateful and thank God. No one is exempt from having a bad day or days—that’s
life! But when Paul told the Thessalonians, to give thanks in all things and all
situations, he was also talking to us!
We can so easily get caught up in the
problems of the day that we forget to thank God for the things we have. Truth
is—there is something we can always find in life to thank God for—even when
life is really hard.
I challenge you to take a moment and think
about what you wouldn’t have today, if things counted on how much you thanked
God yesterday. It will give you a better picture of all we have and maybe help us
to not sweat the small stuff so much. Amen!
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