Gratitude

Thankfulness for God's True Riches

 

This is the month when we in the United States of America set aside quality time with friends and family to express our thanksgiving to God for His many blessings.  It is an appropriate and a much cherished holiday. 

Unlike Christmas and Easter it tends to be more relaxed and much less commercialized by our culture, and in the church it is far removed from religious spectacle.  For this I am thankful! 

What a delightful opportunity for us to more objectively reflect on the gracious, loving kindness of God without all the other festive distractions.  We gather with those we love free from the anxiety of giving and receiving gifts focusing more on each other as treasured fellow human beings to love and be loved by.

Experiencing stimulating conversations at a table filled with Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, candied yams, green bean casserole, sumptuous rolls, and pumpkin pie creates moments to fondly remember.  Ecstatic expressions of appreciation to those who prepared the delicious food go on for hours.  It is all followed by noisy clanging and vigorous talking while cleaning up in the kitchen and then glorious naps on the floor or sofa to be followed by endless grazing from the kitchen counter throughout the remainder of the day.  Football on TV, board games, lively chit chat about countless topics of the day.

These are the Thanksgiving days I have such fond memories of.  I cherish these memories shared with my now deceased parents and grandparents, my own children and grandchildren.  Circumstances change.  Life often brings us curves in the road not expected.  We grieve the loss of these idyllic family experiences.  The holiday season is very difficult for some of us.  Many people resort to various self-destructive behaviors in order to cope with the anxiety and depression associated with this time of year. 

Ok, so I know this is supposed to be about gratitude.  I am not singing a song of “sour grapes.”  Far from it!  Remembering with fondness, healthy grieving, and being honest and transparent is not all I want to share with you today.

I have been working at and developing an “attitude of gratitude” (cheesy cliché) no matter what the outward circumstances of my life may be.  This is more than just positive thinking jargon or following a clever formula of beliefs.

Here is what has changed my life more than anything in recent years; I made a list of what I am grateful for and printed it out and posted it on several places where I live and in my office.  Whenever I begin to feel sorry for myself or feel anxious I read it out loud to myself.  I have been doing this now for several months and I can’t explain it, but there has been a psychic shift, which is bringing a fresh awareness of God’s presence and peace to my life.  It is all part of being a person of faith.  Having the faith of Jesus who through His teachings has enabled me to experience an abundant life of love, joy, and peace no matter what the circumstances around me are.

The most important thing I am thankful for is the unconditional love of God.  God has brought into my life a loving partner, a valued and cherished friend in Pastor Gary Bowser, a wonderful church family, and the restoration of my relationship with my children and grandchildren.  Yea!!  Material, financial, temporal blessings come and go.  Human kindness and God’s loving kindness are my most treasured blessings.

These are the true riches of God which I am eternally grateful for. 

 

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Bill Cobb

Worshop Arts Director

First Baptist Church, Denver

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