This morning I ran to the grocery store for a few things just because the forecast says the roads might be icy on Wednesday so I wanted to be prepared in case I didn’t want to get out, but still wanted to cook meals. As I was leaving the store, it was pouring down rain.
Cold, hard rain.
Honestly, my first thought was “Oh great, I’m going to get wet with cold rain and all my bags will get wet!”.
Thankfully, it only took seconds for the Holy Spirit to fill my mind with new thoughts, and I stepped outside talking to God as I went and CHOOSING to be thankful. I say choosing, because it’s not always a feeling, but we have to make that choice to look for the good. Much like LOVE – we have to choose to love, even when we don’t feel like it.
“Rejoice always,pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Give thanks in ALL circumstances, it says. You might not feel like giving thanks FOR all of your circumstances, but no matter what we all have something we can be thankful for. Most of us have many somethings we can be thankful for.
I didn’t even run to the car. I chose to walk. After all, it’s just water. Sure I got wet and cold, but it was temporary. Today, as I walked to the car in the rain, I thought about all I had to be thankful for:
* The rain. The ground, plant & animals all need it. I thought about how many people in parts of the world would be celebrating for rain like this.
* The food that I just purchased. Fruits & veggies. Meat. Healthy, nutritious food that I was able to pick out myself. I don’t have to worry where my next meal will come from….or my next several meals. To be honest, I’m not even worried about whether or not I will eat next week.
* The fact that 2 days before payday, I had money to buy food.
* My truck. I didn’t have to walk to the store, but instead, I could get in the truck and turn on the heat as I drove home.
* My husband’s sweatshirt I was wearing – keeps me warm and reminds me of his love.
* The friends I have at PWOC (Bible Study group for military women/wives) – where I am taking part of this food tomorrow, and the fact that we can not only gather publically to worship God and learn about Him, but we can also post it on Facebook and invite people to come.
So much to be thankful for! I hope you all will join me this year in trying to CHOOSE thankfulness, even when it’s not our first feeling. Looking at this list, I realize I am RICH beyond measure – maybe not by society’s standards, but I’m ok with that.
Did you know that 1 in 5 children in America are “food insecure”? That means they don’t know where their next meal will come from. In North Carolina, it’s 1 in 4 children. I just read that a couple days ago and I can’t get it out of my head. I’m not supposed to. I’m supposed to do something to help.
Do something this week for “the least of these”. Donate goods, time, or food to those in need. I bet you’ll be glad you did.