326 -Thankful for What We Have and Don’t Have

#faithbites #faithjourney #thanksgiving2018 Thankful

I want to wish all of you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving. This is a day when we are thankful for everything we have and everything we have is from the Lord.

Today’s Thanksgiving didn’t go as I had planned. We had planned to go to my sister-in-law’s house and share a great meal with family. My eldest got sick yesterday and ended up at prompt care. Then today had a 100-degree fever. When you have immunosuppresed family, you don’t take the risk. So my eldest and I stayed home. At first, I was disappointed that I didn’t get my traditional Thanksgiving meal or the time shared with family and friends.  But upon second look, it was something to be thankful for. A day with my eldest, watching TV, playing video games, snuggling, and just living life. Then my wife brought home food and it was just as good.

When we think about what we are thankful for, remember that we can be thankful for all things, even when things didn’t turn out the way we thought it would.

Scripture

•  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6
• Praise the LORD.Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. – Psalm 106:1

Reflection

As our verses say give thanks for all things in Christ. When things don’t happen the way we want, it’s ok. We can be a bit down, but then we can look at it with thanks. Tonight my wife and I were supposed to have a date night and a movie, but because of my eldest being sick we couldn’t. Instead, though, we had a family movie night at home, cuddling and enjoying the company. At the same time, my niece who was getting a night off a dialysis to babysit our kids would be able to take one next month to have a slumber party with her girlfriends. Something she never gets to do.

Sure, things didn’t work out for the short term, but in the long term, God has his ways. I have food in my belly, a roof over our heads, a job, and a family that loves me. These are the things that matter. The other stuff is icing on the cake and as we all know too much icing can be bad for you 🙂

Charge

Take a moment to look past those things you don’t have. Try to forget about the things you didn’t get to do. Instead, think of what happened because you didn’t get that and give thanks. Look at the small things in life and give thanks. Really, for all things give thanks to God as all things are his.

Lord, help me to always be thankful. Let me look past those things that I want and focus on what I need. Keep my heart full and thankful for everything you give to me and mine.