We all have many things to be thankful for in our life. We can be thankful for health, shelter, food, family and friends, to name a few. I was taught at an early age to give thanks at the dinner table for the food that I was about to eat and to give God thanks for new clothes that I received during various times of the year. Giving thanks to God was paramount in my house.
The excitement that comes from getting something new, or even something you have worked hard for, is often short-lived and quickly replaced by our desire for the next thing. King Solomon of the Bible put it this way: “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” So, what’s the solution? Having an attitude of gratitude all the time.
Stopping regularly to remember the goodness of God that makes it possible for you and me to enjoy every blessing we have, and remembering to say, “thank you Lord,” is what we should do frequently. The Psalmist had a heart of gratitude. They wrote, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and so sing praises to your name. O most high; to declare your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night.”
Being grateful for all that we have and all that we will receive is a reason to always be thankful. Author Norman Vincent Peale said, “The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” It has been said that “once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things you lack.”
If you have gone through tough times in your life, don’t forget those who supported you and helped you through the storms of life. God often works through others to bring you through so be thankful for them and that you made it through. Sometimes these events seem random, but they are not. The Bible says, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love him and are the called according to his purpose.”
Let’s commit to giving thanks to God because we know that the storms we face in life, such as sickness or tragedy, are meant to test our character and faith. When we praise God during challenging times, we gain new hope, and we can find the strength to persevere. So, give God thanks every day and Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
