Symptoms of Gratefulness

Symptoms of Gratefulness…

‘Twas the morning after Thanksgiving and all through the house, not a child was stirring,not even our new dog Samson:).  I opened my eyes a few minutes before my alarm went off at 5 a.m. to hit all of the black Friday sales.  My heart was beating with excitement, 20% off, 40% off clearance items, free coloring book with a $100 toy purchase J!  

Before I got up out of bed I said a little prayer, “Father, what is Your plan for me today?”  And what to my wondering ears did I hear, “Stay home and spend time with Me.”  Are you serious?!!  Me, the one who was born to shop and get great deals, has been asked to stay home ~ away from the sales, away from the malls, away from the hustle & bustle, & away from buying more stuff. 

My husband took the children out as planned and I stayed home.  To set the atmosphere, I quickly turned on some music to keep my mind from wondering about all the great deals I was missing:)!  I turned on Andrea Bocceli’s ‘My Christmas’ CD.  I joined in and started singing with him about the birth of Christ in the Little Town of Bethlehem, with the Angels singing on that Silent Night, Holy Night.  Within a few minutes my heart began to overflow with gratefulness, contentment, joy, peace, & thanksgiving.  I was reminded of what Paul said in Colossians & Hebrews…

Colossians 4:2

Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.

Hebrew 13:5

'Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,"'

Here are 5 Symptoms of Gratefulness:

1.    When you’re running late for work and you get a flat tire ~ 

Your heart says ‘I am grateful that I have a car to drive and my Father will supply all of my needs!’

2.    When you’ve invested a lot of time,treasure, energy & friendship in a relationship and he/she walks out on you~ your heart says ‘I am grateful for the lessons I learned and I look forward to the next friend you have for me.’

3.    When you are let go from your job unexpectantly ~ your heart says ‘Woohoo, I am grateful that God has something bigger and better in store for me!’

4.    When your plan doesn’t work out and your idea falls through ~ your heart says, ‘I am grateful that I can trust you Father with my whole heart.  Your ways are not my ways, your thoughts are higher than my thoughts!’

5.    When you have to unclog 3 toilets in one day and your husband is out of town J ~ your heart says ‘I am grateful Lord that we even have toilets… and thankful for the kids that stuff them up!’

Do a quick check up to see if you have symptoms of gratefulness.  Gratefulness is a choice!  When everyone is sending us messages that things, buying, spending, & getting make us happy… stop spending, start worshipping, give thanks, be content, and always, always, always be GRATEFUL!! 

And then i twas the night before Cyber Monday… J HA!!!