The Grateful (are not) Dead
Ah, yes, we are now entering that time of year where we set aside time for family, friends, food, and football. We set aside a day (an entire weekend for most) to sit around and eat, talk to friends and family, eat some more, watch a little football, eat some more, and then have dessert, which is usually pecan or pumpkin pie with LOTS of whipped cream (or, if you’re like me, LOTS of whipped cream with a little bit of pumpkin pie!). Oh, and we’ll often throw in a few moments to share why we are “thankful.” But why is that? A cartoon I saw recently in our church bulletin showed a little girl looking up into her father’s eyes and asking the question, “Why aren’t we this thankful every day?”
That is a great question. In reality, however, it is somewhat more difficult to answer. We get caught up in the things that make up the routines of our life: family, work, and friends. All of those things require interactions and relationship and not all of those go well. We might have a coworker, supervisor, or boss who is giving us trouble, a family member that we have argued with, or a friend who isn’t being too friendly. We may be having difficulties with financial issues, trying to figure out how to pay the rent or mortgage, how we can put food on the table, or just trying to survive. On top of that, if we pay attention to the news, we get bogged down by the continuous turmoil that surrounds us.
With all that going on, how can we be grateful? If you are breathing and reading this, you have something to be grateful and thankful for, but it may take a moment to realize it. Have you ever been asked the question, “How are you doing?” Of course you have! We all have. And, we have all, at one time or another, given the reply, “Well, under the circumstances, I’m doing fine.” I had a friend in college who had one of the most positive attitudes in life, yet he had a lot of physical challenges as well. Whenever he would hear someone reply with, “well, under the circumstances…” he would always reply, “What are you doing under there?” He knew about personal challenges but also knew that we do not have to live under the circumstances and can, indeed, overcome them. He knew, from personal experience, that he served a God who was present with him in those circumstances and had every reason to be thankful!
In the book of Lamentations (whose title does not sound like a very uplifting resource to go to if one needs to be encouraged), there is a section that points our hearts in the right direction and can help us reset our spiritual compass. Those verses are found in chapter 3:21-24.
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.’” (English Standard Version)
It is only when we understand the circumstances surrounding the writing of this book that we can fully appreciate the words written there about God’s faithfulness. Jeremiah, in the previous chapters and verses, relates the total and devastating destruction and captivity of Jerusalem and the torment and anguish that accompanied it. Yet, instead of allowing the sorrow to overwhelm him and take him captive, he instead turns his heart to focus on God. Only when he has God in view does he confidently state, “The LORD is my portion…therefore I will hope in him.” (verse 24, ESV).
May we all focus on our Savior and God and not on the circumstances. We cannot help but have our hearts and souls filled with thankfulness when we focus on the One who knows us completely yet loves us unconditionally!
