We are fast approaching Thanksgiving and the end of November. This is the month we are “thankful.” Many of the devotionals I read lately have the underlying theme of thanksgiving woven through them. FB is full of people’s 30 Days of Thanksgiving.
I began the 30 Day quest on November 1. I was on a roll though the 12th. Then life happened. I suddenly didn’t feel thankful and certainly didn’t want to pretend and write something each day just because I had started and everyone else was doing it.
Today is the 23 and for the past 10 days I’ve struggled. I’ve struggled with earthly issues. I’ve wept and wrestled with God and prayed to continue to find joy amidst the things that are weighing me down. The furthest thing from my mind was being thankful on FB.
Admitidly, I lost sight of being thankful. It almost made me mad to read everyone’s thoughts each day. That is one of my greatest struggles with FB. When I’m feeling down, other people’s lives seem to be “magnificant X100!” This only leads to my wounds needing more licking and my struggles seeming greater than they are.
This morning I awoke early (because it’s Saturday and I can sleep in!). I grabbed my morning coffee and headed upstairs to my little hideaway. I began to pray and invite Jesus into my morning.
In today’s Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, Jesus has invited me to sit quietly in His presence and let Him fill my heart and mind with thankfulness. He encouraged me to look for the tiny treasures that He’s already layed out before me today. I’m to look carefully and pluck them up one by one. By the end of the day I’ll have a magnificant bouquet* for which I’m encouraged to offer up to Him with at grateful heart.
Moments after reading that, I could see out of the corner of my eye, the sun rising in the east. I turned to look and this was the first gift of my day.
Instantly, I knew what He wanted me to rest in… today and every day.
Hope.
His hope.
Hope for things seen and unseen.
Hope for eternity.
No matter the circumstances surrounding me each day, I have the gift of hope sitting at my feet. For that I am thankful… every day. I need to step out of the “November is the month to be thankful” box and live with that thanksgiving and gratitude every day.
* I heard a commercial on the radio the other day for a Thanksgiving bouquet on sale from a leading floral company. It’s guaranteed to stay alive for two weeks AND it will bring you holiday memories! Hmmm… I wonder what memories come packed in the box it arrives in? Are they generic memories or can they be molded to each family? We are a little low on the memories this past year… maybe I should order one and see what we get! It’s only $19.99!!!!!
Thoughts and Reflections on Life 