In a time such as this, when Covid has taken so much, when the world has been shut down and people have distanced themselves from each other. I find it necessary to be thankful. Something my parents always told me, though it irked me when they did, was that there were always people with worse circumstances than me. Of course many parents say that in order to try to influence their kid into eating there vegetables, or showing gratitude for something they possibly didn’t want ,but I feel like the idea of people having it worse than I has never been a reality until you see it for yourself. As an adult I realize the truth of their words and I realize that I should take the time to appreciate what blessings I do have.

The thing about having an abundance is that it takes away from ever feeling grateful or thankful of what you have. When you have much, you forget the feeling of ever being in need and are more preoccupied as to what you want. The feeling of need and want become interchangeable and so you think that what you want is something you actually need. Some of the saddest people in the world are actually one of the most richest out there. celebrities in interviews sometimes express their unhappiness even though they have everything you could ever want. The Bible expresses this very view in proverbs.

Proverbs 30:7-9 says,

“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.“

Basically it says “give me enough that I don’t steal, but not so much that I forget who gave it to me in the first place.” The thing about being thankful is that it is something that needs to be practiced. If it’s not, then we begin believe it is not so crazy to think that we are owed everything we get. That somehow it is a right. If we start looking at things like that then we become nothing but spoiled children throwing a fit when we don’t get what we want. Learning to be thankful comes with consistency and practice and the fruit of such consistency is a change in countenance( mood/ attitude).

the Bible also says 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“

Many people ask what is God’s will? I just want to know God’s will for my life, so what is it? He gives us so many verses in his word to know and this is just one. One thing that is very straight forward that can be practiced everyday is to give thanks in all circumstances.

I understand this year has been hard. I understand many people have had so much taken from them but I think its healthy to be able to look back every day and find something to be thankful for. By practicing being thankful I guarantee that it’ll be easier and easier to find something else to be thankful for. I think that’s what helps us be content even when it hurts. It’s important to wake up and focus on what you do have and not on what you don’t.

I got a one sentence journal a long time ago. Basically you write a sentence a day to capture what is going on. I think I want to change that to a thankful journal. A list of all I have to be thankful for for every single day. The great thing about that is, that it’s only one sentence. Not too much to ask for. I hope someone feels inspired to do the same! Thanks for reading and God bless!