Thankful for What?
Some people are just naturally optimistic. You know what I’m talking about – the ones who always see the glass as half full while the rest of us sit around and discuss the reasons why the glass is half empty, how it got so empty and who’s to blame. But, for some reason, I don’t know many of those glass-half-full types of people. When I watch the evening news, I notice that the things that interest us as a nation are always the glass-half-empty situations; we’re not excited about the positive news stories. Give us something to complain about, something to argue about, something worthy of a great discussion.
Women gathered around a fellowship table can sound no different than the news. “How’s your job going?” one woman asks only to open up the can of worms labeled “frustrations at work.” In another corner of the room, the conversation turns to men and how they never can do x, y or z right or why they can’t seem to understand women and on we go. Whining about this, complaining about that, and finding fault with everyone who isn’t there to defend themselves.
With only two days until Thanksgiving, you could be thinking:
a) I’ve vacuumed this carpet three times this week, but someone keeps eating popcorn in here and I’ll have to clean it two more times before company comes on Friday.
b) The turkey will never thaw out in the fridge on time and I’ll probably end up serving raw turkey AGAIN this year.
c) The pumpkin pies I made last week (to get ahead of the game) have already been eaten so now I have to start all over with that project.
d) I’ll NEVER be ready by the time everyone gets here. The rolls are burning, the gravy has lumps, the bathroom sink has toothpaste spit in it that no one cleaned out, the toys have migrated from bedrooms to underneath the dining room table….and
WHY is it that we’re doing this anyway?
And in the midst of the bad news, the propensity to grumble and gripe or the frustrations with life, God whispers…. “Be thankful.”
Thankful for A) A carpet to vaccum…A home which provides warmth from the winter cold.
Thankful for B) Turkey to eat…What a blessing that we get to rush about cooking multitudes of food. It means we are among the richest people in the world. We are well fed.
Thankful for C) Projects like pumpkin pie to keep our idle hands busy and teach us the art of serving others (just the way Christ served us, in humility) Philippians 2
Thankful for D) Messes everywhere because they are a reminder of healthy happy children.
Perhaps these are not your reasons for thanksgiving this year, but maybe God would have you take that “reason” to grumble and turn it around into a reason for praise.
Philippians 4:8
“whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Come visit me…
Great post! Reminds me I’m supposed to live in a “no grumbling zone.”
Amen to that Heather. Although it will be quiet around our house this year, I am thankful for the house I have, the food to eat, the people in my life. Yes, we can turn everything into praise. Lets all see the glass half-full this Thanksgiving.
Be blessed today and always…
The blessings are so abundant and it is often times the little things that we take for granted. Great post today to remind us to give thanks for ALL things. Happy Thanksgiving! -Laurie
Amen sweetie.
Okay, so the mess thing got me! *smile* I am a clean person and like to have our home reflect that same thing. I am, ever so slowly, learning that toys everywhere is not a bad thing rather an opportunity to give our children a toy in any room we happen to be in. Not to mention I am trying to teach them to clean up their own messes. They are very good students and do well cleaning up after themselves, when asked of corse. *smile* So, yes, I am one of those glass half full types while the Lord has blessed me with a glass half empty husband. He is grwoing into a glass half full mind set and I am becoming a bit more logical about when the glass really is half empty, because sometimes it really seems to be. *smile* I like the Shirley Temple song…Be optomistic, Don’t ya be a grumpy, When the world gets bumpy, Just smile..smile..smile and be happy. Don’t wear a long face, It’s neve in style…Be optomistic and smile! Yes, that is one of my theme songs for my days even when I don’t “feel” very happy. God is faithful to show me at least one blessing that breaks right through my nasty mood. *smile*
Harvest blessings. -me-(Mommy of two little blessings)
Hi, I’m a glass half-full type! LOL. Seriously, though, I am! I love the scenarios you offered and how we can be thankful for them. Great post on thanks giving!
So true! It is important to consider our perspective when we’re doing these things.
Great post. We have so much to be thankful for!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Engrafted by His Grace-
Shonda
Heather, Thank you for your post. Your writing got me to thinking that I need to become one of those people who see the glass half full. I have a lot to be thankful for and one is that I am a live.
Love and Hugs,
Joyce
We do indeed have so much to be thankful for. Thanks for the reminder.
Heather,
Girl, B and C are me!!! In fact I am heading to the frig right now to check on the turkey. I think it still may be icy inside.
Love you girl. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you Heather… I especially like the reminder about the mess under the table… thankful for happy healthy children… I think I’ll need that reminder about the mess later today… and tomorrow… and tomorrow afternoon… and can we send the reminder to my poor husband who rarely gets to come home to a clean living room… well, I am thankful to have a loving husband, who comes home, from a great job… never mind, I’m just thankful 🙂