Categories of Thankfulness

If you are like me, most days you are thankful for God, for life, love, and family. Many people are not like me - thank goodness- but they are not thankful at all. I know that’s hard to believe, but just look around and you see people of all ages empowered by entitlement. Where on earth did that attitude come from? Well, you may can guess, and I have my suspicions, but that is not the content of this blog.

Lest we be shortsighted and ungrateful in what is going on in our lives, the lives of those around us, or just in the world in general, let’s look at some categories where we can find something to be thankful for.

First, let’s look at our individual lives:

~ The very foundation of our life is the air we breathe and the breath we take in. The alternative is not pleasant and often leads to death. Then it’s over, and it’s too late to be thankful.

~ What we have, as stewards of God’s creation, is nothing short of breathtaking. We wake up to sunrises and finish the day with a sunset. The moon above lights up from the sun's reflection. The stars and all that we see in the heavenlies are there for us to enjoy. In addition, bringing it to earth, we are thankful for where we live, what we wear, and what we eat. The necessities of life to sustain us, no matter how much or how little we have, we are thankful. If I have two coats, I will find someone who doesn’t have one.

~ Our families, all of them! Without our parents, well, we would not be here. One thing to do - honor your Mom and Dad. I am thankful for my siblings and their families, as well as my extended family, like aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Some thankfulness and reflection here may help us see that we are more like them than we realize or care to admit!

~ Our health, whether good or bad, we can always find something to be thankful for. I am thankful for doctors, nurses, and hospitals. The discovery of medicines and methods that help keep us healthy. I am thankful for researchers, labs, and long hours on medical teams in the fields of foreign countries.

~ Finally, but actually first, I am thankful for God, who gives life. Thankful for His word, the Bible, that shows how to live life. Thankful for His Spirit that guides us through life. Thankful for Jesus, His Son, who gave His life.

I could go on and on, and I hope you do this week, thanking different ones for who they are and what they do. Did you know that thankfulness is the entryway into the heart of God? We enter His courts with praise and His gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4).

When we are thankful, we acknowledge God at work in the earth, in our lives, and in the lives of others.

Happy Thanksgiving from me to you!

Until next time, remember the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

Dr. Michele