Thankful

Philippians 1:3

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.

This week holds many memories for our family.  Twenty six years ago tomorrow (March 10th) Joshua and Jacob made their entrance into our world.  Five and one-half weeks early…little bitty guys…they came and completed our family of six.  Two years ago tomorrow Rick had surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor.  Two very different events in the life of our family…but two events that we are so very thankful for.  Life came in the form of 2 precious babies and also in the form of a very special surgery.

As Christians we are told to be thankful.  What does that mean exactly?  The word in Greek means to be grateful.  We all know what that means.  When we look at the circumstances in our lives we are to look at them through grateful eyes.  With the birth of twins, even though they were 5 1/2 weeks early, that was a circumstance that was easy to be grateful for.  Rick’s surgery was a little tougher. Gratitude was harder.   As a family we had a choice.  We could be bitter and angry that Rick even HAD a brain tumor that required surgery…or we could look at it with eyes of gratitude and thankfulness that he had the best surgeon and that the surgery was successful in removing most of the tumor.  It was our choice.  As hard as it was…we chose to be thankful.  It was the best choice.  By being thankful we were made better during the months that followed.  Being thankful for that circumstance made it easier to be thankful for other things that came along.  Good and bad things…hard and easy things…right and wrong things…all things.

There is another meaning to the word thankful in the Colossians passage.  It carries the meaning of thankfulness being of benefit to us…beneficial.   Looking back on the past 2 years I can see that meaning being lived out in my life.  There are so many times that I want to be angry and bitter about what was happening and did happen to Rick, to our family and to my dreams.  As I pray and beg God to free me from those feelings and as I choose to replace them with a heart of gratitude, I become very aware of the benefit of that choice.  The benefit for me is peace.  But, also the realization that as I choose to be thankful I feel better.  I cannot say that I choose gratitude 24 hours a day…then or now.  I have my moments of anger, confusion, denial and questioning.  But, after talking to my loving Father I quickly turn back to gratitude for all that He has done.  The benefit for me right now is quite literally my sanity.  Thankfulness, when I choose it, keeps my mind firmly planted in that place where God wants me to be.  Knowing that He is still in control, no matter the circumstance of my life or this world.

Tomorrow will be a wonderful day for me.  Remembering my “giving birth day” (as Rick use to call it) and remembering the day Rick received his gift of surgery and life for almost 2 years.  I am thankful too for being chosen by the Lord to share my life with Rick.  I do not know why God, in His grace, allowed me the honor of sharing my life with such a man.  But, my heart is so grateful that He did choose me.  I am thankful for these things from Rick:

I learned how to study and teach the Word from his example.

I am thankful that he taught me that nothing anyone does to me is worth going to hell over (forgiveness is vital)

Anything worth doing is worth doing well

If you don’t have the money, no matter how good the deal,  don’t buy it!

Listening is better than talking (still working on this one!)

I’m thankful he taught me to not be afraid to try…even if I fail…at least I tried

I’m so thankful for his wonderful sense of humor

I’m thankful for the love that he displayed to me…on good days and bad

I’m thankful that he called me “woman”  (He told me over and over again that Jesus called his mother “woman” so it was okay for him to call me that)

There are many other things that he taught, lived and preached that I am thankful for.  I am choosing each day, sometimes minute by minute, to have a thankful heart.  God wants us to live in gratitude…for our own benefit and also for the benefit of a watching world.  In the circumstances of your life are you thankful?  Are you experiencing the God-given benefits of a thankful heart?  Join me today in choosing and experiencing…a thankful heart.

Sending love from a thankful heart,

Debbie

This entry was written on March 9, 2010 at 11:50 pm