I cannot believe I am down to my last two regular posts. Again--I will occasionally post---when something is weighing upon my soul and needs to be shared. If you want to be certain you see the post, sign up to be a follower. Writing a book of memoirs will be a huge project and until it is finished, I will not be writing every week day. So thankful for all who have followed along with my stream of consciousness. You have inspired me, encouraged me, and made me think--thank you! I have carefully considered what these last two posts topics will be. Today we will once again hit upon gratitude. Could anything be more important than a consistent attitude of gratitude?
It is really easy to have this attitude of thanks, when things are going smoothly---OR IS IT? Often we take smooth sailing and blue skies for granted. We forget the storm clouds of yesterday---and the rocky rides once we have survived them. To coin a contemporary description of the world---we feel "ENTITLED". We not only expect fair weather, but we feel as if we it is our due. I AM GUILTY-GUILTY-GUILTY! At a bare minimum---I forget the source of ALL good things and go on my merry way with an attitude of "This is as it should be". Perhaps we are more prone to forgetting gratitude and thanksgiving when the world is rosy than when the storms of life are beating us down. When we are struggling---we are looking for someone to blame or give us a helping hand---and our years of Sunday School lessons have taught us it is NOT God who has caused our woes. SHAME on us if we shake our fist at him and forget all He has done. I beg to differ. God created us---He understands our frustrations and has BROAD SHOULDERS (FIGURATIVELY) --and has infinite patience with us---HIS Beloved. He can use ALL things on the Road to Sanctification---even our poor attitudes and forgetfulness of the Source of all good things. He is ALWAYS teaching us.
To sum this up---I was sitting in my living room yesterday with a "younger" friend from the Hood. We were discussing a current struggle I am experiencing and the options of how to handle it. After a LONG discussion, I finally looked at him and reminded myself by verbalizing it to him that "ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD" and God can use everything to teach us. Somehow I am more reminded of my gratitude in the midst of struggle than when the world is running smoothly knowing what He has promised. To be more concise---hopefully I am developing a habit of gratitude knowing deep in my being--where all good things come from, and when struggles come my way---I can be grateful--KNOWING AS I KNOW--that God is using the good and the bad to show me Who He is. So praise God for my current struggles---and I look forward to seeing how God uses them for His Good Purpose and my growth in devotion to Him.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him,
who have been called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
I know I will certainly miss your daily visits, Lulu, but I absolutely understand your need to break for a time while working on your memoir. Huge undertaking! May God bless you, my friend, in all that He calls you to do and be. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. I sat down and wrote the first draft of the preface today. YES it will be a big job- a labor of love.
DeleteBlessings, Sweet Friend!