After coming home from work, helping with homework, making dinner, baths, snacks and laundry, I actually made it to the gym. When I get home, the dishes are still in the sink, the kids are still awake and the house in in disarray. Before I continue, I need to point out that my wonderful husband does help around the house. He is a wonderful husband and an even greater dad. He was just as tired as I was from a long and exhausting day. Needless to say, I was a "little" upset(to say the least). So, I took off my sneakers and my jacket, rolled up my sleeves and began washing the dishes. As I washed and scrubbed, I grumbled and complained. "I can't believe the dishes aren't done, I mean, come on, I work just as hard. I work outside the home and inside the home and everywhere else and I deserve not to have to do the dishes sometimes"...and on and on and on. As I'm washing my pretty dishes, God interrupted my pity party, my complaining session. And He said, "Be Thankful!" "Thankful, Lord? Thankful? Don't you know I'm tired and exhausted, Lord?" All He repeated was, "Be Thankful!" "Okay, Okay....Fine!", I say to myself...(had my family looked over in my direction they may have seen me talking to myself, making these ugly faces, and definitely thought I was NUTS). Luckily, they did not or just haven't said anything. None-the-less, I said okay to God(which by the way is always a good idea to begin with) and started thanking Him for the dish I was washing, then for the glass, then for the soap, and then warm water, then for the food that He had provided for us and for the wonderful men that grace me with their delicious presence on a daily basis. "Okay, Father, I see what You're doing."
My attitude began to change, my heart became softer and gentler. My countenance changed and I was happy. This Thanksgiving thing was working. I began thanking him for people, friends and family...even some (notice I said some) of the hard times. I responded to my husband and children differently because I was thankful for them, because my heart was changed.
Being grateful or thankful is really so easy. I think that, like my husband said this morning, we live in a society that feels as if they are entitled. Everything is fast,quick, now and just like we like it. And if we don't like it then we expect it to be corrected and compensated. I know that there are times when the microwave isn't quick enough. You can now make a whole chicken in the microwave in 30 minutes as opposed to the normal 45 minutes to an hour. And since we are entitled, we "deserve" to buy those new Coach shoes or handbag. Or eat out whenever we want.
Whatever happened to just being content? Why are we trying to keep up with the Jones'? Or trying to get the next and newest gadget? What is so bad about your little apartment or home? What is so bad about the car you drive? So what that it isn't a Land Rover or BMW? Most people driving those cars can't afford them either and yet they are up at night wondering when the repo man is going to show up. There is nothing wrong with wanting nice things, pretty things. But there is something wrong with not being happy or content and thankful for what you do have. Knowing that your situation could be so much worse. And yes, it could be a lot worse. Don't believe for a second that you have it the worst. You may have it real bad. But thank God that there is still hope. Jesus is our hope. All the times in my life where there were trials and confusion, doubt and fear, Jesus was there to calm all of those things down. No one or Nothing can do that for me or for you.
Knowing that God holds everything in the palm of His hands.
Like a dear friend said just last week..."You either believe that He can or you believe that He can't. I believe that He can." And so do I! I believe that He can, because He has. He has done so much for me already. The situations and circumstances that He has brought me through has strengthened my faith in Him. I know that no matter what He is right there with me...whether I feel Him or not.
I am thankful for a God that loves me and loves me unconditionally. I am thankful for health and a body that functions well. I am so thankful for my amazingly sexy and wonderful husband and for my scrumptious munchkins(the apples of my eye). I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for men and women who sacrifice their lives for us. That we live in a country that is free and where we can worship God openly.
I am thankful for our little two bedroom apartment, because it is warm, cozy and full of lots of crazy people and lots and lots of love.
What are you thankful for today? Let's cultivate an attitude of gratitude...not just for Thanksgiving day, but also for everyday!!
My attitude began to change, my heart became softer and gentler. My countenance changed and I was happy. This Thanksgiving thing was working. I began thanking him for people, friends and family...even some (notice I said some) of the hard times. I responded to my husband and children differently because I was thankful for them, because my heart was changed.
Being grateful or thankful is really so easy. I think that, like my husband said this morning, we live in a society that feels as if they are entitled. Everything is fast,quick, now and just like we like it. And if we don't like it then we expect it to be corrected and compensated. I know that there are times when the microwave isn't quick enough. You can now make a whole chicken in the microwave in 30 minutes as opposed to the normal 45 minutes to an hour. And since we are entitled, we "deserve" to buy those new Coach shoes or handbag. Or eat out whenever we want.
Whatever happened to just being content? Why are we trying to keep up with the Jones'? Or trying to get the next and newest gadget? What is so bad about your little apartment or home? What is so bad about the car you drive? So what that it isn't a Land Rover or BMW? Most people driving those cars can't afford them either and yet they are up at night wondering when the repo man is going to show up. There is nothing wrong with wanting nice things, pretty things. But there is something wrong with not being happy or content and thankful for what you do have. Knowing that your situation could be so much worse. And yes, it could be a lot worse. Don't believe for a second that you have it the worst. You may have it real bad. But thank God that there is still hope. Jesus is our hope. All the times in my life where there were trials and confusion, doubt and fear, Jesus was there to calm all of those things down. No one or Nothing can do that for me or for you.
Knowing that God holds everything in the palm of His hands.
Like a dear friend said just last week..."You either believe that He can or you believe that He can't. I believe that He can." And so do I! I believe that He can, because He has. He has done so much for me already. The situations and circumstances that He has brought me through has strengthened my faith in Him. I know that no matter what He is right there with me...whether I feel Him or not.
I am thankful for a God that loves me and loves me unconditionally. I am thankful for health and a body that functions well. I am so thankful for my amazingly sexy and wonderful husband and for my scrumptious munchkins(the apples of my eye). I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for men and women who sacrifice their lives for us. That we live in a country that is free and where we can worship God openly.
I am thankful for our little two bedroom apartment, because it is warm, cozy and full of lots of crazy people and lots and lots of love.
What are you thankful for today? Let's cultivate an attitude of gratitude...not just for Thanksgiving day, but also for everyday!!
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