Category Archives: thankfulness

WHAT? No post?

11 Friday Feb 2011

Posted by in God's love, thankfulness

≈ 2 Comments

I’m a late blogger today so if you read this you will be one of the few. 

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Today I’m living on thankfulness.  I’m spending the day doing all I can to blog any negative thought out of my mind with a response of thankfulness.  I’m thankful for my kids, my friends, my health, my job…oh I could go on and on but my idea for today is to be thankful.  Something I didn’t like came up at work this morning and I have decided to stay focused on the fact that I have a job and am thankful for what it gives me. 

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I may try to do this all weekend!  I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself and do it for a week or month.  That would be crazy, huh?  🙂

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God loves me.  What more do I need to know today?

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Grace and peace to you.
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Thankfulness – Part 2

23 Thursday Dec 2010

Posted by in gift, giving, thankfulness

≈ 1 Comment

It’s the season of gift giving and gift receiving.  Some gifts are outrageously good, some outrageously hideous.  Some gifts are expensive and rare, some inexpensive and personal.  Some gifts require little thought, others bathed in love.  Whatever the gift, it requires a giver and a receiver. 

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When I was a kid, I was perfectly acceptable to getting as many gifts as possible.  I accepted them freely and with great joy.  Gifts big and small, expensive and free…I took the approach of bring one, bring all.  Something has changed though.  Now, I would rather not receive any gifts.  Oh, I’ll still take them but I would be just about as happy without a gift as with a gift.  I credit that to something that has followed me for many years, the feeling of not being worthy of receiving gifts.  Or, the feeling that whatever is given to me needs to be returned with something just as valuable, if not more.  This year is no different than several past.  I received a gift from a friend that was far more valuable than what I could give in return and I’m still not sure I’m going to be able to simply accept it.  I don’t feel worthy of such a gift because I can’t do anything to match it. 

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I think it’s why I have so much trouble being thankful to my Lord.  He has given me a gift that I feel unworthy to receive, a gift that I can’t return with equal value.  My trouble accepting physical gifts is very similar to my trouble accepting that I am loved unconditionally and that my salvation is secure. 

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Maybe the this year’s gift will be a part of the learning process God wants me to experience so I can receive His good and perfect and priceless gift.  Maybe if I can learn to accept gifts on earth I’ll learn to accept the gifts God has freely given me without hope of reciprocation.  Maybe. 

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Grace and peace to you.
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Thankfulness – Part 1

22 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by in Christmas, thankfulness

≈ 1 Comment

What does a person do when they have eternity to be thankful for but a day coming up at the end of the week that they are dreading profusely?  What does a person do when they can’t see past the pain they know is coming even though they are surrounded by people who love them?  How do you help someone be thankful for all that they have when there is a depth of pain that is immense for what they don’t have? 

I have joined a group of people who dread Christmas.  For years, especially the last 16, Christmas morning has been something I looked forward to.  This year, I would prefer to be oblivious to it’s existence because it is not as it has been, not as I have come to expect, not as I dream it would remain.  The enormity of my pain as I think about that day is working to block out all that is good in my life.  It is easier to be sad than to be thankful.  It is easier to imagine being alone on that day than sharing it with people.  It is easier, but somewhere deep down, I know it isn’t beneficial for me.  So, I will join friends in activities on that day hoping to be distracted from the force that wants my heart to hurt and my mind to send a barrage of negative thoughts like a loop that never ends. 

I have never been able to understand the pain people face at Christmas until now.  And, not that I understand everyone’s pain, but I do have a sense of how pain can occur and how it can shake their foundation.  If you are one of those who find this Christmas to be something you dread, I hurt for you.  If you are one who still lives in the joy of Christmas, in the joy of the smiles and laughs of children and family, in the joy of remembering that what we are really celebrating is the hope for the future that was brought into the world through the birth of Jesus, relish it and try to share it with your friends who are hurting.  Whether they will accept it or not, it helps to know you care and that there remains much to be thankful for whether we all want to believe it right now or not.

I know my words are not adequate for all who are hurting or all who can’t wait for Christmas to be here.  I hope, in the absence of my ability to convey the right words, that you will hear the voice of God tell you what He wants you to know…and do…and that thankfulness will rule this season.

Grace and peace to you.

!(&#$*(&)*$_@#%$_**(#&$

20 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by in thankfulness

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That’s the feeling when you try to copy and paste something into your blog and can’t get it to format properly. 

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I’ll skip the humorous story I was going to share.  Just laugh and play like you read something funny.

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Our Bible class yesterday was on the idea of thankfulness.  It was a great class because a) the teacher used a funny analogy or two I might try to repeat here, b) it made me think of some thoughts I have long held that I might share here in the coming days that won’t square with the norm and c) it made me realize I’m not really living in thankfulness right now.  Oh, I’m thankful for plenty of things but my outlook and demeanor isn’t one of thankfulness.  Not right now. 

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Well, there’s work to be done and shopping finished.  I hope you get it all done without pulling your hair out.

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Grace and peace to you.
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