 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 118:1 Sometimes people say they are thankful for the terrible things that have happened to them. Usually the idea is that the horrible things that occurred shaped them in some ways, altered the course of their lives, and made them into the people they are. Good came from the tragedy, and so the cursed problem at some point was transformed into the best thing that could have happened to them. I admire the positivity. I understand how our experiences, both good and bad, have shaped us into the people we are today. And as a Christian, I do believe that God is working all things together for our good. When we look back on things that have happened, oftentimes we can see how things worked out and fit together. Time gives us a big-picture perspective; sometimes we reach a level of peace and acceptance so profound that even if it were possible, we wouldn’t go back and change what happened. But can I be honest and say I’m still not at the point of being thankful that my parents got divorced or that Uncle Art died suddenly while visiting our family years ago? I still can’t bring myself to say I am thankful that my husband has multiple sclerosis or that I stuttered my way through childhood. And most recently, I am not thankful that my mom has cancer. This honest confession does not mean that I am bitter or that I am not moving toward a place of acceptance. I believe in God’s inherent goodness. I strive to fully embrace the reality of my life, and I am most certainly shaped and influenced by all these situations. But thankful for them? Am I thankful that they happened? My answer is still no. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 God’s will is that we give thanks in everything—in the midst of the storm, in the middle of the trial. In any and every circumstance, in the process of whatever it is I am working through, in the place I am in right now, I can give thanks. I can give thanks for who God is and for the help he provides. This means I can be honest about my pain while giving thanks. It means I don’t have to fake my way through anything or pretend to be happy about my circumstances. I can be authentic right where I am, disappointed and thankful at the same time. How is this possible? It might seem difficult, but giving thanks in all circumstances is not as hard as you might think. It’s rather easy actually, because the things we give thanks for can be totally random. And the more you practice giving thanks, the easier it becomes. Here is a list of ninety-nine things for which I am genuinely thankful:
12. coffee 13. our church 14. peace in the midst of the storm 15. joy even in sorrow 16. the hope of heaven 17. my dog 18. my job 19. God’s ever-present help 20. caring friends 21. family 22. provision for today 23. fresh ingredients for preparing meals 24. a roof over my head 25. a day off 26. time to rest 27. that this hard day is almost over 28. the breathtaking sunset 29. a new day tomorrow 30. sunrise (I don’t often see it happen, but it always does) 31. new mercies every morning 32. good books 33. God’s word 34. music 35. chocolate cake 36. a leisurely walk 37. groups 38. a place to share my heart 39. Netflix 40. the snooze button on my alarm 41. fresh flowers on the table 42. medicine 43. hugs 44. a hand to hold 45. our furnace 46. our air conditioner 47. family dinners 48. my secure eternity 49. cards in the mail 50. good movies 51. popcorn 52. hot tea 53. a hot shower 54. warm coats and boots 55. moments of solitude 56. moments of connection 57. sleep 58. a listening ear 59. distractions 60. prayer 61. breath in my lungs 62. sight 63. sound 64. touch 65. taste 66. sisters 67. daughters 68. brothers 69. husband 70. Mom 71. Dad 72. soft blankets 73. groceries to carry in from the car 74. photographs 75. memories 76. love 77. forgiveness 78. healing 79. silence 80. indoor plumbing 81. health insurance 82. Mexican food 83. pasta 84. anything with white wine sauce 85. piano music filling our home 86. a fresh coat of paint 87. Google 88. ice water 89. hand cream 90. words 91. meals from friends 92. comfort 93. God’s steadfast love 94. salt and pepper 95. fresh herbs 96. a tidy house 97. light 98. a gathering of friends 99. that I never walk alone You see, once you get started, it’s not all that hard to keep going. Gratitude opens our eyes to the many gifts God gives. He is always good, and when we recognize his goodness, when we lift up our souls to him and give him praise, even in the most difficult circumstances, we are helped and he is glorified. Reprinted with permission from Cancer, Faith, and Unexpected Joy by Becky Baudouin, Kregel Publications, 2017. Order your copy of Becky's book here. Categories
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