The other day, I saw a neighbor’s post in the NextDoor App complaining that a local food distribution did not provide turkey. She added that she practically wasted her time, the 2 hours of waiting in the line, because all she got were items she did not care for. This list included 7 bags of apples, pomegranate juice, pies, and a bunch of other stuff – that she received for free – at the expense of others! But her attitude about the whole situation definitely became the talk of the town as the other neighbors voiced their opinions on the post. Most of them bashed her for being ungrateful, especially in this difficult season, where many have lost their jobs, homes, and cars. A few of the neighbors agreed that free turkey should have been provided, as well. Others pointed out that this lady needed to stop complaining and be grateful for what she did receive.
In our daily hustle and bustle, we rarely take the time to stop and be thankful for all that we do have. Instead, we often tend to complain about what is not going right and what we are struggling with, or the things we do not yet have at the palm of our hands. When our focus is on the lack, our gratefulness meter is way down. Hence, this pattern of striving and dissatisfaction fill our days. The time of Thanksgiving is one of those seasons where we get the opportunity to slow down our lives and just be intentional about being thankful.
They say that one of the biggest ways to eliminate depression is by having a grateful heart. Listing out the individual things that we are thankful for can be the antidote to negative thoughts and feelings. By recognizing the things in our world that we are thankful for, as opposed to lacking, we are shifting the focus of our minds. In doing so, negative thoughts are minimized or eliminated and positive thinking is introduced, providing a sense of calmness and peace. This way of thinking effectively enforces our thankfulness and the more we practice this, the more peace we get to experience.
Though the roots of history surrounding the occasion of Thanksgiving is quite deep, we sometimes have reduced it to a family gathering, feasting on turkey, ham, and other thanksgiving goodies. However, this year, as we know, is looking very different from the previous ones. Families are restricted from gathering as we would have in the past. We have masks on, social distancing parameters, and quarantine protocols to be carefully considered.
This year, unlike the rest, aside from all the turkey and stuffing, I hope we have come to the realization that there is so much to be thankful for. 2020 has been a rough year for the most part. It has been a time of cancelled plans, difficult decisions, and desperate desire for hope. Much has been required of us and we may be drained from it all. Nevertheless, it has drawn out within us a deep sense of resilience, a fight for victory, and a vision for the future. I am sure each of us have our own 2020 stories encompassing what we have learned. With each story, we know that God has been faithful, you have made it thus far, and you know that God has so much for you in the next season.
Our perspective and attitude on what we are going through goes to show how we can handle what is coming next. God is pleased with a grateful heart, a cheerful giver, and a pleasant spirit. It is easy to complain about what we do not have and hard to be thankful for what we do have when it is in comparison to the people around us. Though it does not come naturally to see the good in the midst of difficult circumstances, it is what the Lord expects of His children. In the Kingdom’s economy, thankfulness is the currency used to communicate with God how much we appreciate His works in our lives. 1st Thessalonians 5:18 states to “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It does not make a lot of sense logically to be thankful especially in the most painful situations that we may undergo. However, in making this an essential practice in our daily lives, we are able to rewire our minds to be grateful from the innermost part of our being. Only then will this concept come naturally to us.
What are you grateful for today and in this season of your life?
As you mentioned gratefulness is the antidote for depression and pathway to success
Count your blessings day by day