I glanced up at the clock as tiny shards of light fell
across the table. It was dawn - almost time to get ready for the busy day ahead
of me, and I had been up most of the night. I could feel the strain in my back,
neck and shoulders. I needed to get up and stretch, to get moving, but I knew
how important it was to finish this project, so I kept going. Almost done, I
told myself. Love lightens the load.
Later, as I sat wearily on my bed, stealing a few minutes
before the craziness of another day crashed in on me, not only did my body ache,
but my spirit did too.
I felt low. Unappreciated.
I felt low. Unappreciated.
Have you ever felt that way? You worked hard, gave
sacrificially of your time and effort, and even though you didn’t do it for
thanks, your spirit sank just a little when no one seemed to notice.
I sat there thinking… I wonder if he knows… if he understands
the sacrifice it was. Yes, he had hurriedly mouthed thanks,
but his obligatory word did little to convince me that he really
appreciated my help. Sullenly, I mused, ‘Why can’t he be more thankful?’
(Isn't it funny how we accuse others of the very sins we are guilty of? There I was accusing my gracious and kind husband, while I was the one guilty of thanklessness.)
(Isn't it funny how we accuse others of the very sins we are guilty of? There I was accusing my gracious and kind husband, while I was the one guilty of thanklessness.)
And then it started. From somewhere deep inside me… a slight flutter ...unrecognizable at first… but the stirrings grew, until a barely audible whisper
escaped my mouth, ‘Thank you, Lord! Thank you for the opportunity to be of help
to my husband. I am so blessed to be able to serve him in this way.’
The cure was instantaneous. It was as if I had swallowed a magic pill. Gone was the
sullen, discontented spirit; in its place was an overwhelming feeling of
gratitude and peace.
As I went about my day with a new spring in my step, I chuckled about how I had stumbled upon the cure. Always there, right within my grasp, mine for the choosing - the cure for a disgruntled and sullen spirit. The choice to give thanks.
As I hummed the
As I hummed the
'And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.' Colossians 3:17
'Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.' 1 Thessalonians 5:18
It's not that I'm not thankful, generally speaking. As a glass half full kind of person, in the big issues of life, I customarily choose to focus on something to be thankful for, rather than ruminating on all that's wrong.
But often, in the nitty gritty of the everyday, I forget to put on my thankful lens. Sometimes, I end up grumbling and complaining about the very things I ought to be thankful for. (Ever happens to you? How absurd, right?)
Just like that, I slip and slide right out of God's will for my life.
I don't know about you, but that is not a place I want to be. I want to be right up there under His wings, abiding in His presence, 'striving with all His energy working powerfully within me'.
The fact that this is even possible - that the Creator of heaven and earth has chosen me and 'rides across the heavens to help [me]' accomplish the good works He has prepared in advance for me to do - bowls me over and floods my spirit with thankfulness.
And when I choose to live thankful, I am blessed. Happy. Blissful. With a deep, internal happiness regardless of what is happening externally. A happiness not reliant on temporal things, like the praise of others or an expected 'thanks' that feeds my flesh, but wholly dependent on my relationship with God, my father.
Yes, when I choose to remember the privileges I have in Him, and how grateful I am to be working in His kingdom, my life overflows with thanksgiving, and a disgruntled or discontented spirit has no chance to take root.
Moment by moment I get to choose. Thankful or fretful? I get to choose to remain in the center of God's will for my life and in doing so open the floodgates for God's blessings to pour down.
How's that for a cure for a sulky spirit?
Yes, when I choose to remember the privileges I have in Him, and how grateful I am to be working in His kingdom, my life overflows with thanksgiving, and a disgruntled or discontented spirit has no chance to take root.
Moment by moment I get to choose. Thankful or fretful? I get to choose to remain in the center of God's will for my life and in doing so open the floodgates for God's blessings to pour down.
How's that for a cure for a sulky spirit?
What about you?
Have you fallen into the trap? Are you looking for thanks in all the wrong places or are you eagerly cultivating a harvest of thanksgiving in your own life?
Remember the choice is yours.
What do you choose to be thankful for right now?
Why don't you take a moment and list them all out? It might surprise you just how happy it'll make you.
******************
I'm grateful this post was
Oh yes, you are definitely a 'glass-half-full' kind of girl, that's one of the many reasons I love you and love visiting this space of yours. But you're so right, we really can get caught up in feeling unappreciated. For me it happens when I take my eyes off the Cross and I become self-absorbed -- definitely not what God wants for me. So I'm very grateful for this reminder to focus on God and his gifts -- essentially to focus on the Giver. When I do, my thankfulness spills over out of gratitude for what Jesus did for me (rather than looking at what others can do for me). And what a sweet blessing that is!
ReplyDeleteMarva, thanks for all the love and sweet encouragement! As you know, since I wrote this post, I've had many opportunities to practice. My prayer is that daily we keep our eyes fixed on our God, the Giver of all good gifts, and live lives of thankfulness.
DeleteThis is so true, Carlie! I love your challenge to us. We all need to look at ourselves before we let those complaints erupt toward others. I cannot tell you how many times that little shift in my focus has brought great conviction and illumination of my own sins. Great thoughts, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBeth, thanks for your kind words! Such a blessing this early Monday morning! (smile) Yes, my friend, I'm learning more and more it all comes down to our perspective.
DeleteCarlie, I hate when I have a sulky spirit too! I definitely think that not enough sleep brings out the worse in human nature. Sometimes that's good to see we have this inside so we can let God get it out. Love the post.
ReplyDelete~Sherry Stahl
By way of the #RaRaLinkup
That is so true, Sherry. I can be really crabby when I'm sleep deprived; thank God for His grace and His power to overcome. Glad you liked the post. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteSo good! We profess to want to be servants of God, but when someone treats us like a servant by "taking us for granted" -- we resent it. Lord, teach us the truth that our most important approval comes from your "well done."
ReplyDeleteWell said, Michele! It's a lesson I have to learn over and over - apparently, but God is so patient and full of grace. Thanks for visiting and for your encouragement.
DeleteI agree it is crucial to have a thankful attitude! Many times we as women serve in hidden places and we can easily feel as though no one sees or appreciates our work. When I start to feel that way, I remember Hagar out in the desert, who met with El-Roi, the God Who Sees Me. God always sees and he promises our heartfelt service for him will not go unnoticed or rewarded at the proper time. God's appreciation is enough.
DeleteThanks for sharing your wisdom, Yvette! I pray that I would always remember 'The God Who Sees Me' and work for His 'well-done' alone.
DeleteIsn't it amazing how something so simple can turn everything around. How I wish I remembered it more quickly. Praise God for His Spirit that draws me back when I'm tempted to head off on a poor me episode. Thanks so much for adding this to Faith 'n Friends Link Party. Blessings to you, Carlie!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb! Yes, the issue is in remembering, isn't it? But God, that's all I can say. Blessings to you, my friend!
DeleteGreat post! It is very easy to drift into complaining but even just taking a minute to change our focus and remember all we have to be thankful for can make a big difference.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lesley. Therein lies the magic - a change in focus. If only I could remember that sooner. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteOh Carli, I think that many of us fail to be thankful in all things. We let circumstances cloud our vision and suddenly, those circumstances are stealing our joy and thankfulness. Your post is a beautiful prod toward thankfulness and I am THANKFUL that you linked it with us at The Loft this week. Sweet blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you, Leah! Always a pleasure to visit with you at The Loft. Blessings to you, my friend!
DeleteExcellent post, Carli. I feel for you because I've felt the SAME way. When I begin to give thanks it just makes things better. Doesn't change the situation but sure does change me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for understanding, Christine! So grateful that giving thanks can change us for the better! Blessings to you, my friend!
DeleteLove this post! Not too long ago, I wrote about 1 Thess. 5:18 when we focused on knowing God's will. It's His will for all of us that we be thankful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up at the Loft today, Carlie!
Would love to read that post, Jerralea! Please send me a link if you can. Thanks for your encouragement.
DeleteCarlie, I clicked right over here from the #SHINEbloghop when I saw your title because of a conversation I had with my 13-year-old on this topic just this morning! ;) She had worked hard all weekend on a group project (a.k.a., The Dreaded Group Project) for her English class. This morning, she said, "Guess how much thanks I got from my group for all that work? None!" Of course I had to tell her that any time you do anything expecting gratitude, you'll probably be disappointed. And of course, that isn't the reason to do anything. Thank you for sharing your words, wisdom, and heart here!
ReplyDeleteOh, Elizabeth, it's never a good feeling being unappreciated. But alas, it often happens in this world. What a blessing it would be if your daughter could learn the challenging yet rewarding lesson of purposefully choosing to change our focus. Rather than look for thanks - give thanks. It doesn't change the situation but it changes our hearts. It's a lesson that many of us adults are still trying to learn. I pray that she would be encouraged by Colossians 3:23-24. Our reward is secure in the Lord. Blessings to you, my friend!
Delete"And when I choose to live thankful, I am blessed. Happy." I love this sentiment. I chose grateful for my word of the year last year and I'm familiar with that happiness and joy you speak of. No matter what is happening, like you said, if one is thankful for the little and the big things, it goes deep and roots itself in you. Thanks so much for sharing this on #shinebloghop this week!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love how you put that, Maria, 'it grows deep and roots itself in you.' So true! Thanks so much for your encouragement; it's always a pleasure visiting at #shinebloghop.
DeleteAnother thing I often notice is that when I'm busy thinking that Phillip hasn't appreciated all my hard work, I'm not really noticing or appreciating his!
ReplyDelete#SHINEbloghop
So true, Jenny! One of my favorite verses (Philippians 4:8) reminds me to fix my thoughts on what is good and admirable. If I focus on the good I see, I am much more at peace, much happier to be around and much more thankful. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteHi Carlie,
ReplyDeleteThankfulness is so powerful, yet so easily forgotten! Why is it so easy to slip into the "woe-is-me" frame of mind? Intentionally expressing gratitude to ourselves, to others, and especially to the Lord cuts through the negativity and stops the enemy in his tracks! Thanks, friend, for sharing hope! I'm so thankful to have you at #MomentsofHope!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Thanks, Lori! It's always such a pleasure to visit your hope-sharing site. Expressing gratitude to ourselves' - something I haven't done much. Great food for thought this week. Thanks, my friend.
Delete