When your spirit feels like crying

Thanksgiving day - 2012:  Do you know how to be thankful? I think, typically, we compare ourselves to others. We count our blessings, because we know some people have much less. We tell people we love them, because we may not have them beside us someday. We may even do a random act of kindness, because we have needs that no one notices, so we try to notice another’s needs. And we think about how we could be worse off, how we need to stop complaining.  Is this how we should approach "being thankful?"  I don't think so.

Here's what I have realized ... when we compare ourselves to others. . . we always end up not really feeling thankful in the end.  I have found that the only way to realize how to be thankful is to understand the gifts that God has given us. That seems easy to say ... but it is not easy to do when your spirit feels like crying.  My spirit feels like crying a lot lately!  Can we overcome those feelings, especially on days like today - Thanksgiving?  I say yes!!  Here's one way:  focus on the people, places and things for which you're grateful. "Count your blessings and you will find them to be countless, even in the midst of adversity and tragic circumstances," say Robert A. Emmons and Joanna Hill in "Words of Gratitude for Mind, Body and Soul." 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we read:

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  

As I look at the above scriptures in 1 Thessalonians, I find that our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or how we feel. All too often these three commands – be joyful, keep praying, and be thankful – goes against our natural instinct to lash out and be the exact opposite.  The key point is to make a conscious decision to obey God’s Word – whether we “feel” like it or not, and in so doing we begin to see things in a new perspective. When we make a practice to obey God we will find it easier to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful.

             Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile.
              A word of optimism and hope.  A "you can do it" when things are tough.
               ~Richard M. DeVos

Look to the practice of writing down what we are thankful for every day for the positive push Richard DeVos talks about above.  I believe if we (I) do this, we will begin to have a grateful heart and realize that there are more things in our lives to be thankful for than there are to complain about. In so doing we become a more joyful person to be around and we will find it much easier to pray for one another as well.

It may take baby steps at first to find something to be thankful for – but “you can do it!”

I am thankful for a loving husband, beautiful children, parents and family members who love me and support me through the midst of my trials.  Life is still beautiful!!

What are you thankful for today?