Choosing Thankfulness

Thankfulness is a choice.

My family and I buried my grandmother yesterday. We can choose to say, “thank you, God, for the time with her,” or we can focus on our loss. I can thank God for grandma’s long life and her influence on my family and me, or I can be angry that death is even a part of life. In either case, I can be sad. Being thankful is the healthier choice.

This Thanksgiving when so many people are unemployed or facing foreclosure, and the headlines always seem to be discouraging, we need to choose to be thankful. Thankful for what we do have — family, warm weather and sunshine, good health, clean water to drink, freedom to say what you feel or read what you choose, etc. I don’t mean to make light of problems. There are always challenges. I believe, however, that focusing on our problems can lead to increased worry; remembering God’s provision in the past and his eternal faithfulness, we can trust him for today and tomorrow.

In every situation, there’s likely a positive aspect for which you can be thankful. If you’re frustrated at work, be thankful you have a job. If you’re wondering how you’ll afford Christmas this year, thank God for your family with whom you can share Christmas. If your schedule seems overwhelming, choose to be thankful for the friends, work commitments or family activities that are available to you.

This is my challenge to myself today and in this coming week. Be thankful for the car that I hate – because I have a car. Be thankful for my house that’s not a hobby farm – because I have a house. Be thankful for the family who often frustrates me – because I have a family with whom I can share Thanksgiving. Be thankful for the chilly fall weather – because it certainly could be worse for the end of November.

Of course, there are many reasons to be thankful this season that don’t require a positive “spin.” I am thankful for family, friends, my horse, food to eat every day, freedom to worship and read the Bible, etc.

If you’re not feeling so fortunate these days, think of our military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are spending this Thanksgiving apart from their families. They don’t get to choose what to wear each day. They can’t drive down the road without facing potential danger. And they’ll eat their turkey dinner in a giant tent (guessing) with hundreds of other enlisted personnel dressed exactly as they are. Now can you choose to be thankful? If nothing else, be thankful for those military personnel who are serving our country, doing their jobs and protecting (in principle) our freedoms.

Psalm 136 (NLT)
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.