Are you are full of vision and eager to fulfill your goals? Do you work hard day in and day out? Do you often speak of the things you want or need and complain about what you don\’t have?
Me too!
Well, this past weekend within the context of focusing on needs and wants, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, \”Don\’t forget to be thankful!\”
If we slow down and pay attention to the little things, there is so much to be thankful for!
I came across a quote from Melody Beattie:
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.
Beattie was raised by a single mother. She was abducted as a young girl. Later she landed a life of drugs. Then, she married an alcoholic who spent all of the family\’s money. To add to her calamity, Melody\’s 12 year-old son died in a ski accident.
How much adversity can one person endure?
Melody felt that life had dealt her such a low blow that whatever poor choice she made was justified. Then, she came to grips one day. Melody decided to spend the rest of her life helping others.
How?
Out of her own life\’s vicissitudes, Melody Beattie made a conscious choice to slow down and look for good; then dwell on it. She discovered healing for her own life in concentrating on the good and being thankful.
Beattie has helped lots of people overcome addictions and feelings of depression through her inspiration to take time to be thankful.
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel adds,
When a person doesn\’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity.
In other words, when we are so busy focusing on what we want or what we don\’t have, we fail to be fully human.
This week, let\’s make each moment count as fully human. Show gratitude for the goodness of God, including the air we breathe and the ability to read these words.
Paul says it this way:
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts each week.
Have a wonderful week!
Because of Jesus,
Antipas
