Thursday

“Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

~Philippians 4:6-7~

Today, we will focus on good news/answered prayers.

• Our six year old grandson, Mason, had suffered with allergiers all his life.  Yesterday, he had some allergy tests at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.  Mason is no longer allergic to peanuts.  He celebrated with peanut butter and salted peanuts.  Today, he wants a Snickers. Tomorrow, he will get a Recees Cup.                                                                   This reminds me of all the simple pleasures of life we take for granted each day.
• Momma is doing a little better and has made some progress in regaining her strength to stand up.                                                                     That is something that seems easy to most of us and something we think little of.  I think these two things alone will make us thankful today.
• Andy Taylor was able to be at prayer meeting last night.  I know he is counting his blessings.
• Ruby Schwartz is doing better with her walking.  I know she is thankful to have less pain now.
• Frank Erwin is home from North Oaks.  There’s no place like home!

Thought for the Day: Appreciating Our Blessings

Two old friends bumped into one another on the street one day. One of them looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, “What has the world done to you, my old friend?”

The sad fellow said, “Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars.”

“That’s a lot of money.”

“But you see, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand free and clear.”

“Sounds like you’ve been blessed….”

“You don’t understand!” he interrupted. “Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million.”

Now he was really confused. “Then, why do you look so glum?”

“This week… nothing!”

That’s the trouble with receiving something on a regular basis. Even if it is a gift, we eventually come to expect it. Someone once suggested to me a way to test someone’s character. Give him (or her) $5 a day for a month. Then stop, and see what his reaction is. The natural tendency is that if we receive a gift long enough, we come to view it as an entitlement. We feel hurt, even angry, if we don’t receive it any longer.

It’s the same way with the blessings God gives us every day. I don’t deserve the comfortable home I live in, the beautiful scenery around me, the clean water that I drink. But after receiving these gifts (and a multitude of others) for years, I sometimes fail to be grateful. I’ve come to expect these good things. And when one of them is removed for a short while (like the water being cut off), I get upset.

Make an effort today to recognize the blessings you’ve come to take for granted. Focus on what you have rather than on what you don’t have, and see if it doesn’t improve your attitude.

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
White House Church of Christ
White House, Tennessee

 

My mother-in-law, Bessie Russell, was the best example I had of appreciating the little blessings of life.  She appreciated every little aspect of nature as she rode with family along the familiar roads of our area.  She felt so blessed to watch a child do everyday things, like run across her porch.  A new dish towel at Christmas was appreciated as much as a million dollars (which she never had).  She always fed Jason red beans from an old, heavy ironstone bowl.  I’m thankful for my daughter-in-law, Becki, who has that old ugly bowl hanging in a shadow box in her kitchen.  It brings back sweet memories of “Miss” Bessie and thankful thoughts of Becki who recognized the importance of that bowl that is priceless to Jason.

Blessed and thankful,

Anna Lee