THANKFULNESS

today i was surfing the net, and i came upon this very timely poem:

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have

everything you desire,

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something

For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations

Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge

Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary

Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are

also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles

and they can become your blessings.

like most people, i have always thanked the Lord for the many blessings He showered me with: a loving family, caring friends, a community to belong in, good health, etc. but after reading the lines of the poem, i realized that there still are a lot of things i have not thanked God for. like my personal trials. like moments of loneliness. of feeling rejected.

pain and sadness can sometimes blind the heart to the countless blessings it daily receives. in my case, because of the heartaches i went through the past months, i wanted comfort. i wanted relief. i looked for affirmation from others. thankfulness and gratitude were definitely not the foremost things on my mind.

1 thess 5:18 said, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” at first, i did not understand. how could i be thankful when i certainly don’t feel very blessed?! then it dawned on me: i got it all backwards! i did not feel blessed because i was not being thankful!

it is all a matter of perspective. i realized that when i consciously make myself more aware of God’s blessings, i start to feel better. all of a sudden, i am able to smile more, and the world takes on a brighter hue Ü

this quote rings so true: "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie ~

a thankful heart. one of the most precious gifts the Lord can give to someone who’s broken. someone like me. and i’m glad He chose this special month of Thanksgiving to open my eyes to the many hidden blessings in my life Ü Thank You, Lord. Thank You.. Ü