Becky Baudouin
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in everything

11/8/2018

 
Picture

​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:

  1. strength for today
  2. time with those I love
  3. skilled doctors and nurses
  4. laughter
  5. tears
  6. a place to lay my head when the day is done
  7. hope for tomorrow
  8. reliable transportation
  9. texts from friends
  10. Sudoku
   11.   phone calls
   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
​Thanksgiving, giving thanks, give thanks in all things, holiday, grief and the holidays, cancer, faith, joy, help, family, prayer, surviving the holidays, handling the holidays, help in hard times, spiritual growth

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