It Is Good to Be Thankful: Appreciation makes the world a better place…
Today is always the first day of the rest of your life. It is also “…the day the Lord has made…” and we are admonished to “…rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalms 118:24). Just think about it! Each new day is a gift from God. So I want to spend it by rejoicing, being glad, and offering thanks.
Here’s my little morning ritual. When I awake I immediately thank God for a few things. First, if I’ve gotten a good night’s sleep, I praise God for it. Sleep is such a precious commodity for me. I’ve always functioned best with around eight to nine hours. I can get by a few days with less, but I’m not at my optimum. I consider sleep a gift from God.
Secondly, I’ve been thanking God if my knee feels good. My right knee is tricky. It likes to “go out” but forgets to take me along. It buckles with no warning. So I try to bend it a few times in the morning and thank God that I can still do that. There may come a time when I can’t.
Even on mornings when I haven’t slept well or the knee feels tricky, I try remember to thank God for a brand new day. Each day is a day the Lord has made and we are commanded to rejoice and be glad in it, so I want be thankful for each new day. As my old cartoon pal Maxine says, “Any day on this side of the flower bed is a good day.”
Even during days that seem so busy or out of control, we can rejoice because God is with us. Each day we can ask God to help us focus on the most important things of life. God gives us what we need to make it through another day—our daily bread (Matthew 6:11, Luke 11:3). God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).
Each day is an opportunity to learn more about Jesus. Each day we can ask God to fill us with His thoughts. Each day is a chance to make a difference in the world through a smile or a word of encouragement. Each day we can spread the joy of Jesus.
Today is very special. It’s not my birthday. It’s not my anniversary. I’m not on vacation. I didn’t win the lottery. It’s not Christmas or New Years. So why is it so special? Because today is a gift from God. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and with God’s help, I can rejoice and be glad in it!
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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...” ~ Psalms 92:1 (KJV)
