FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2021 AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19,2021 AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Psalm 136:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.”

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever” (Psalm 30:1-12).

“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to him in song” (Psalm 28:6-7)

 First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

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WHY HAVE THANKSGIVING?

Brings Families Together

One of the most fundamental reasons why Thanksgiving is so crucial is families are brought together. For many families, incredibly extended ones, this is one of the days that brings all of them together.

Important Part Of Our History

Thanksgiving day is an essential part of our history as it allows us to reflect a lot. We can reflect on our blessings - as the Pilgrims (who had a tough time in the new world did().

Encourages Gratitude

Sometimes we can be negatively looking at life from all the injustices that are happening. We can be so bitter about the shootings, crime, and even policies that discriminate against us.

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Back to 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything gives thanks”!!!  (EVERYTHING!!!0  A few months ago I took my foot off the brake for a second to reach for something behind the seat.  Bam.  Even at that slow speed on a slight hill, my car rolled into a car in front of me.  I wanted to yell and scream.  That was so dumb. But I got out of my car giving thanks tog God.  I had a car, it was driveable.  I wasn’t homeless or in trouble.  

That was an attitude of gratitude.  

This type of gratitude is like the LOVE WINS I’ve been writing about. Love wins, God is in the right place in the world.  There is a “perfect peace” when I am grateful.  There is a “perfect peace” when I am loving.  

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Short story:

The other night, as I was working one of my residents in the Senior Independent Living facility that I was helping, was getting frustrated, and … he took it out on me (not badly).  That hurt.  I was doing my job - how dare he became negative.

(I was not very loving or grateful at that time!!)

It wasn’t until the drive home that I let LOVE WIN, and I tried to align my heart with God and with His Love.  I try to keep an even keel, I try to be positive - and here I was letting a little thing of a senior resident who has health issues get to me.

I am to help him, be cheerful to him and love him. And, while outwardly I was putting up the positive vibes, inwardly I was letting his negativity reach me.

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Hmmm . . . I remember reading of people spitting in the face of my favorite Jewish Rabbi of the first century. 

Mother Teresa was once living in a small house in Calcutta along with some orphans. One day it so happened that there was nothing for the children to eat.  Mother Teresa did not know what to do. 

Mother Teresa called all the children and said, “Come children today we have nothing to eat in the house.  But, if we pray to God he will surely give.” After ten minutes of prayer, Mother Teresa said to the children “Come, now let us go and beg."  So they all went to beg. 

In the neighborhood of Mother Theresa, there was one shopkeeper who hated Mother Teresa. Mother went to him and said, “Please, give us something to eat.”

The person looked at Mother Teresa with anger and spit saliva on Mother Teresa's hand.  Mother gently wiped the saliva to her sari and said, “Thank you for what you have given for me. Will you give something for my children?”

The shopkeeper was shocked at the humility of Mother Teresa asked pardon from Mother Teresa. Then on he began to help the orphan children

Turn the other cheek - be thankful in ALL circumstances!!!

LOVE WINS, GOD WINS!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Karen