1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (NLT).>
If you have children you're probably all too familiar with the term...'ungrateful'. All too often it appears that the more we give,the more they want, and the less they want to do in response to what they ask for and what they end up receiving.
Does the average child really consider the sacrifices that are made to get them that brand name pair of shoes that they've just gotta have? Even if they don't whine and moan until you purchase it...then there's the whole psychological-societal guilt trip that if you don't get your child everything they want...you're not a good mommy....and if God-forbid they're not wearing the latest designer labels you're somehow a failure.
In a time when more non-working high-school, middle-school, and even elementary- school children are wearing Guess, ....carrying Coach, Gucci...and have their own cars---and the parents are making the payments...The pressure to keep up with the Jones' (or is it the Kardashians now?)is immense!
How many of us in the name of 'fitting in' and 'lookin' the look' are skipping mortgage and rent, car payments and electrical bills...and the list goes on---yeah I know..not you and me--OK it seems out there, but it's happening. As an educator I can't even tell you how many students I pass in the hallways wearing the aforementioned items, yet don't have paper and pencil to write with, and move more than once a year! Priorities!
Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't mind some labels too. I just don't want to lie (Yes, I am the only working adult in the household...), eat PB & J everyday, live in the "ghetto" and drive a BMW just to impress folks who really don't care about me either way.
Sometimes when I'm thinking of how it seems that my own children are ungrateful, I wonder if God is using them to show me how ungrateful I am. While I'm asking for him to do things for me...how often do I whine and complain...have pity parties, and min-tantrums (okay...so they're not mini-tantrums..lol) because things are not going the way I want them to.
If you're like me, you love being able to give...especially to those you love, and feel sad when you're not able to be a blessing because of financial constraints. Abba Father is like that too. He truly desires to give good gifts to his children.
I'm reminded that while God took the children of Israel out of bondage and promised (and fulfilled his promise) them a land flowing with milk and honey, what should have only been a 40 day journey ended up being a 40 year delay because disobedience, murmuring and complaining. Actually the earth opened up and swallowed many because of murmuring and complaining -- and it still is today. The 'earth' (the world system) is swallowing up the gifts and blessings that God bestows upon his children because we are so blinded by what others have that we can't see what we have-therefore we fail to be thankful(Exodus chapters 15-16, Numbers 12, Numbers 16, & 1 Corinthians 10:10).
There's so much to be thankful for:
1. a home - even if it's not a mansion
2. a job - even if it's not the dream job, and doesn't pay nearly enough
3. your family -OK..maybe they're a little off---but they love you-and you know you're a little off too :)
4. children - even when they're ungrateful --some people would kill to have them
5. health - OK you're not a size four---somebody loves your size, but you won't know it till you love you..
And this list goes on...
So in the midst of asking and waiting to receive, let's add the missing ingredient-Gratitude! Let's try at all cost to be thankful for what we have. It may be that when we do so, we will see our desires manifested sooner.
P.S. When you respond to this post continue the 'thankful' list...Stay Blessed!
3 comments:
Beautiful, I often remind myself that yes God has me where I am for a reason. I have a MBA and an abundance of education, SO WHAT, he says if it is not being used for my glory, then what good is it to you? Wow, God wants us to be grateful for what ever situation we may be in at any given time.
I have a new thing now where I take the negative and make myself find something good within it, even if I can't reap the benefits, someone else maybe able too. Just maybe because my car broke down and I had to sit in the heat just maybe someone saw me and how patient I was or they realized that when their car broke down they acted completely wrong. Even if I never know why I go through all I do, I must realize its for God's glory, I must continue to show my gratitude.
There's so much to be thankful for:
1. a home - even if it's not mine, I have a roof over my head.
2. an interview - even if I don't get the job
3. My health and strength-even if I have sinus trobule all the time
4. Noisy loved ones- even if they do get on my nerves from time to time
5. a few friends - even if I can't always call on them.
6. Jesus- even if he makes me go through so I can come out on top, because he's my everthing.
Beautiful....I Love It! Thanks for passing on the blessing...
Mrs. Searles this is beautiful. Many times instead of me being grateful about the things I have, I begin to want more, bigger, and sometimes better things without stopping to be thankful for what I already have. I'm learning that I have to be grateful for what I already have and God can't and will not elevate me when I'm coveting other things instead I need to rejoice in what I currently have.
Theres so much to be thankful for
1. a home- even if it's not the biggest home, it's paid in full and no mortgage!
2. a job - even if the people I work with get under my skin :). I can make a difference! Some people don't have a job to go to and want one to go to.
3. my family - Blessed to have a loving and supportive family in whatever I want to do.
4. my son - even if he's going through the terrible two's, I'm blessed! Some people want to experience the good and bad and can't.
5. health - Thankful that I'm healthy!
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