Do you ever find yourself complaining more than giving thanks? Does it ever seem like your circumstances are so overwhelming that it’s hard to find even one thing to be thankful for? Believe me, I’ve been through times like that in my own life!
My friend Diane over at An Extraordinary Day has a weekly post called Joy Day where we are invited to share seven things each Sunday that we are thankful for. I like to take part in Joy Day as often as I can to keep myself in the practice of remembering the ways that God has blessed me.
This week, as I began to write out my list, I decided to do something a little different. During Thanksgiving week we are supposed to be turning our hearts toward the things we are thankful for but I know that for some of you who are going through really tough times that can be hard. This past year I have friends who have lost spouses, suffered illness, watched their children suffer, had marital difficulties, financial struggles, even lost beloved pets (we do love our pets). So I decided to start my list by thinking of the things I’m NOT so thankful for and as I wrote down my complaints I determined to counter them with positives.
Here is what I wrote for Joy Day this week:
1. I am 60 (EEEK!) and I am alive (Yes, I hit the big Six-OH last week).
2. I have bills to pay and we have the means to pay them.
3. My adult children live far, far away and we are closer than most moms and daughters I know.
4. My best friends are far, far away and God is giving me more new friends than I could’ve imagined.
5. My husband lives with pain daily and he still gets up and goes to work to take care of our needs.
6. My house is a mess and the Christmas decorations are all down from the attic and in the process of being put up. A delight!
7. I have too much to do and it is good to be strong enough to do all the things I do.
Do you see what I mean by turning complaint around to thankfulness? I’d like to get in the habit of doing this ALL of the time!
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thess 5:18 NIV Click To Tweet
Scripture tells us to give thanks in all circumstances but this command isn’t for God’s benefit. When we turn our thoughts and hearts toward God in thankfulness we receive the blessing of a changed attitude and a changed heart!
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov 17:22 NIV Click To Tweet
Thankfulness cultivates an attitude of praise which is good for our own well being as well as the well being of those around us.
A happy heart makes the face cheerful... Prov 15:13 NIV Click To Tweet
When we are thankful we are happier and it shows on the outside. A side benefit to this is more friends! People like to be around happy people.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. Ps 89:15 NIV Click To Tweet
When we acclaim God in the midst of our troubles we walk into the light of His presence and are able to rise above our circumstances. The circumstance may not change but WE are changed.
As we come upon this Thanksgiving holiday maybe you also would like to ask God to turn your attitude toward the positive and show you His light in the darkness. If you simply ask Him I believe that He will give you a new way of looking at your life and give you much to be thankful for.
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving,
Amen! Turning complaints into thanks turns your heart from looking inward to focusing outward.
Happy Thanksgiving! I am blessed to call you friend!
Yes, Patti, and what you are describing is not just a Pollyanna-ish denial of the facts, but a theologically supportable position of truth!
Blessings to you as you celebrate gratitude!
I will just say thank you.
Patti love these scriptures. There are actually a couple I am not familiar with. I am adding them to my grateful list. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Birthday Patti! I’m sorry I didn’t get by on “the day” but I celebrate you and God’s favor and blessing on you. May your new year be blessed beyond imagination! [[hugs]]
I love how you decided to take the “not-so-good” and turn it around. Reminds me how God is always working EVERYTHING together for our good. You know… some of us didn’t get anything close to what we asked for or expected. But, on the other hand, we have been blessed in ways we would never have dreamed. God is good… all the time. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your husband!!
Very appropriate and timely reminders, Patti! Like you, I want to be in this thanks giving spirit throughout the year on a regular basis. I get caught up in the daily chore of living, that I all too often forget to “live” with Him and be truly thankful. How blessed I am to have a Savior who loved me so much that he willing suffered and died on that cross for me. Who else but Jesus would lay down his life for me? How can I NOT be thankful…..
Warm and wonderful Thanksgiving wishes to you two, my friend!
Sharon
Thank you Patti! What an awesome way to celebrate this Thanksgiving Day! You are a blessing and I pray you are blessed this season!
Dear Patti, I love your attitude about negative thoughts. Turn them positive! You are such an inspiration and can I tell you reaching 60 is not so bad. I passed that a few years ago and life goes on and can even get better! The secret is maturity. Life with God brings Wisdom and we learn what’s really important and what’s wood, hay, and stubble. Also, I love the Royal Hunt dishes. I have them too! Blessings.
Patti,
I adore how you’ve shown us that while we have “things” we are n o t thankful for in our lives
to turn those “things” around for good!!!
While this was an extremely difficult Thanksgiving Day, (first Thanksgiving with ‘no’ living parents)
I am so~o~o grateful for the time with loved ones that I have!!!
My MoMa used to tell me,” If you’re down, look around.
There are those in this world with far less than you have, deary.”
Happy Birthday, dear friend!!!
I think, in time, you’re going to enjoy the 60’s!!!
Fondly,
Pat