A thankful life
There’s no time to be a grouch and complain
Are you a glass half full type of person or is your glass always half empty? Do you see all the good things that are happening around you or are your eyes fixed on all the things that are wrong?
We all face difficult problems in life but we don’t all see our problems in the same light. Some people choose to be happy in spite of their problems while others choose to allow their problems to ruin their lives.
On this Thanksgiving we should remember 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Do you know anyone who is always thankful and always happy? Do they have lots of friends and do you like being around them?
Do you know anyone who is always unthankful and always complaining? Do those people have lots of friends and do we run to see them when we see them coming?
It seems the more thankful you are about what you have, the better your life becomes. On the other hand, the more negative you are about what you have the more miserable your life becomes.
I was in a store the other day and there was just one customer in front of me. As he moved to the counter I overheard the clerk say, “what a wonderful day it is.” He complained it was getting colder and it was the first day of fall. The clerk replied, “I love the fall it’s such a beautiful time of the year here in Cape Breton.” He said, “It’s getting colder and I don’t like the cold.”
As he walked out I was next and I said to the clerk, “I think the difference between you and your last customer is not the outside change in the season but it’s the inside condition of the heart.”
I believe if you love the life God has blessed you with then life is good no matter what season it happens to be. If you hate life because of some past hurt or present problem then you’ll be miserable and complain no matter the season.
Psalm 92:1-2: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O most high. To declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night.”
I looked at the whole Bible and I couldn’t find where the Lord tells us that there is a good time for us to be a grouch and complain. Complaining doesn’t solve any problems and truth be told, complaining usually creates more problems.
I don’t think anyone wants to go around filled with hurt and pain or gloom and doom but we are encouraged to be a people who give thanks. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we are blessed and we should be giving thanks.
Take some time this Thanksgiving weekend to reflect on the goodness of God. Take some time to count your blessings and name them one by one. The Lord is good so give thanks with a grateful heart and tell others in your life that you are thankful for them.
Find a good church to attend and celebrate Thanksgiving with your family. God bless you all.