GRATITUDE // Thanksgiving

This place is too hot. I’m so tired. This car is too slow. This hotel is too cold. This food takes too long. The waiter doesn’t know what he’s doing. This food is too expensive. This food is too hot. This food is too cheesy. This restaurant is too cold. Outside is too windy. The music is too loud. My hair looks bad. My head feels hot. My sisters aren’t listening to me. I wish I could go to church. I wish I could see my friends. I wish my friend would stop bugging me.

WHY AM I HERE??

So recently, our family went on a vacation. The first day, I spent a lot of it complaining in my head about all the stuff that was going wrong. I was looking for the bad in every situation, and I found it. I was getting grumpy and I wasn’t having that much fun, because my focus was on the negative side. Whenever you look for something bad, you will find it. If you look for something good, you will find it. Our perspective is so important. Instead, I should be saying,

It’s nice to have a change in weather. I’m grateful that the Lord is my strength and that it’s not on my own. I’m grateful we have the money to get an Uber. I’m grateful we can stay in such a nice hotel. I’m grateful that we don’t have to go to bed hungry. I’m grateful for this nice waiter, who’s taking the time to serve us at ten thirty p.m. I’m grateful we don’t have to walk somewhere else to get food. I’m grateful this food will cool down and that it’s not freezing cold. I’m grateful for flavor. I’m grateful that I have legs to walk in and out of the restaurant and outside. I’m grateful for music, which warms my soul. I’m grateful that I have quick-growing hair. I’m grateful for healing. I’m grateful for my sisters, who love me as I am and are always there for me. I’m grateful that I can worship God anywhere and in everything I do. I’m grateful for my friends, who will be just the same when I get back. I’m grateful that my friend cares about me enough to invite me to things.

I feel like gratitude is something our world really lacks. All this “I need this; I need that” is based off of ungratitude. When someone is completely grateful, there should be nothing to be upset about. I mean, the majority of you either have a phone or a computer or access to one, since you’re reading this. You have a roof over your head, clothes on your back and a family. You have food to eat and a God who LOVES YOU.

The past few days I’ve been reading about worrying and how the Lord feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field and how so much more will He care for you! He’s got you in His hands.

Is God enough for you? Will you be grateful with what He gives you?

This Thanksgiving, I challenge you to go the whole day without complaining. Not in your head, out loud, to your friends, or to anyone. Look for the good and when you see something good someone’s doing, praise them. Also, comment below on something you’re grateful for this year! For me, I’m sooo grateful for my church and the family I have there. They’re there for me and love me so much, and I couldn’t ask for more.

Also, update, last Thanksgiving I said that I’d started writing down ten things that I was thankful for each day. As of today, I’ve reached over two thousand! I highly encourage doing this, it really helps if you do it before bed or when you wake up.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND GOD BLESS!
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