Thankful?

Am I really thankful? In listening to a Thanksgiving Eve service at a local church it really got me thinking. As I sit and look at the year past I have so much to be thankful and yet deep down am I really thankful for the little things? John Ortberg in his book It all goes back in the Box said “Having to much can make a person ungrateful.”.

Today as I prepare to go to a Family gathering in which we will have way to much food of everything on the table and I am reminded of an article I read a while back called “Crumbs from your Table”. Find it here http://www.neueministry.com/2008/08/crumbs-from-your-table/ this talks about how much food we in the US waste. The numbers here are staggering. As I think about that spread that is going to be on that table today, my eyes swell with tears about how grateful I really should be with what I have not only today but everyday. This is how I should live my life each and everyday not just on a day called Thanksgiving. Why do I need a holiday to focus on what He has given me? I should focus everyday on Him and praise and give thanks to Him for what He has done in my life.

The picture posted here are of boys I think I could really learn from when it comes to giving thanks. See in this picture these boys definitely look joyful as they sing, clap and give praise. What boggles my mind is what they are giving thanks for. See they had just gotten done walking around the desert for about 2 hours in the midday sun gathering firewood so that they could cook their meals. Now do I give thanks for the fact that I can turn the dial on my stove and have heat to boil water or push a button to turn on the stove? I know for a fact that I don’t. Yet these boys are praising him through a song over firewood to cook their meals. This picture has definitely challenged me over the years.

I am currently sitting and thinking about this and what comes to my mind is that I think I really worry more than I give thanks. This is really kind of sad when I think what the bible says. See this morning I read Matt. 6. In reading this I sat and just kind of meditated on it. I started to think if I am really thankful for all He has done for me or all He has given me would I really be worrying? With this in mind I think I am going to do something a little different this Thanksgiving. I am going to make a list, a list of everything I am thankful for. I am going to lay it all out for myself to see. This will be an ever growing list as the weekend goes and I am hoping that it will make me truly realize what I have in front of me each and everyday and really how truly blessed I am.

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. .......... Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."