Thankfulness In All Seasons

Having a thankful heart is a wonderful thing. But can this attitude last longer than the Thanksgiving leftovers?

An attitude of gratitude sounds good, but it’s not always easy. Here’s what works best for me. Remembering all that’s happened in my own life, and what happened long before I was born.

Thankfulness In All Seasons

God’s Blessings in My Life

There is always a reason to be thankful. Even in our battle with ALS, we find reasons to give thanks. First and foremost, Mike has beaten the 3-5 year average life expectancy and is still enjoying many aspects of life. A big part of this joy comes from our family and friends. We are very grateful for this tribe who step in whenever we need help. But even more than that, it’s their willingness to enter into our new normal and enjoy the everyday moments of life. Thank you dear loved ones for your compassion, kindness and friendship.

God’s Blessing For All

I am also grateful for the living nature of God’s Word, how it yields new and deeper meaning in every season of life. There is so much love, wisdom and healing just waiting to be discovered. Yet digging into the bible takes time. As it turns out, time is something I have more of since my early retirement. Even with the increased demands of caregiving, I still carve out bible time. I hunger to understand God’s greater plan, which motivates me to spend more time in His presence.

Making the Word a Daily Habit

I understand that your situation may be different. Your time more constrained by work or other responsibilities. But God will use whatever time you give Him. In fact, God uses Scripture to speak personally to the specific needs of the whole human race. As our seasons change, different parts of Scripture take on new meaning. God’s Word provides just what we need for that day. How He does this, I have no idea. But it encourages and compels me to make reading my bible as routine as brushing my teeth. Both of them make me feel better and a nicer person to be around. Thank you God, for your life-giving Word which has stood throughout the ages and sustains us all.

Thankful for Jesus

Jesus is the reason we rejoice, the one we pray to and at the heart of why we give thanks. No matter what’s happening in your life, Jesus loves you. He loves you so much, He freely chose to die for you. Even though he never met you face-to-face, he freed and forgave you. He wants you to live in joy, peace and be secure in life eternal.

Jesus, as we meditate on our lives, help us see and be thankful for your many blessings. We can get so caught up in what we long for, or what’s missing, that we forget how much you have done for us already. Fill out hearts with gratitude for your gift of salvation. Give us a daily hunger for your Word. Pour your spirit into us, that we may live in thankfulness in all seasons. Amen.

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