It Is Good to Be Thankful: Appreciation makes the world a better place…
We live in a society that fosters discontent, not thankfulness. People prefer to complain about what they don’t have, rather than be thankful for what they do have. Bombarded with a media blitz designed to make us feel like we are missing the good life, we can end up dissatisfied with a new purchase before we even get it home and out of the box.
However, I think the pandemic made all of us a little more thankful for the simple things in life. Now that the pandemic has eased up, we can easily fall into the discontentment trap again if we aren’t careful. That’s why I love Thanksgiving Day. It’s a reminder for all of us to be thankful.
Actually, giving thanks should be a daily mindset, not a once a year activity. The older I get, the more I realize how many blessings I enjoy. To me, just breathing, sleeping, and being able to get out of bed in the morning have become reasons to rejoice. I’m thankful for family, friends, and freedom. And what a privilege it is to have clean food to eat, decent water to drink, shelter from a storm, and warm clothing in winter. Yes, they seem like basics to us, but these are basics many people in the world live without. So I am truly thankful for these things.
Once I heard someone ask, “What if you woke up today and only had access to the things you had thanked God for in the past?” This gives a slightly different perspective on giving thanks!
Sometimes I try to go through a whole day without asking God for anything, but thanking Him for everything. These little prayers can be random. When I think of all God has done for me, I might thank Him for His forgiveness, love, and mercy. When I see blooming flowers, I might thank God for His creation. When I see a homeless person, I might thank God that He never gives up on me even when I’m down and out. If someone really irritates me, I might thank God I can learn from everyone I meet, even if it’s only how not to do something!
One of the most meaningful prayers we can offer is, “Thank You, Lord!” Not only does it acknowledge God’s greatness, it praises Him for who He is and what He does.
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“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...” ~ Psalms 92:1 (KJV)
