Question: Are you focusing on your blessings or your trials?
Have you heard the phrase, “Attitude of Gratitude?” We’ve each been guilty of complaining. Sometimes we may have the right. Some of us have more trials than others. Many of us bring pressure upon ourselves by attempting to control the uncontrollable, life and the lives of others. There is only so much in our control and one phone call can crush any control we thought we had.
“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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:6-7
I do not believe that this Scripture is telling us to be thankful for sickness, disease, accidents, and the like. My belief is that, regardless of our circumstances, most of us have much to be thankful for. I truly try to live my life with a grateful heart. When trials come, and they do, I force myself to count my blessings. Some trials make that more difficult than others.
This blogpost is a lesson in gratefulness. I hope it helps you.
I Can See!
Are you reading this with your eyes or in braille? Since I haven’t published this in braille, I can assume that you have your eyesight, or are blessed with someone willing to read to you. Globally 256 million people have a substantial vision impairment. Of those, 36 million are completely blind. Many of these people were born blind. They have never seen the sky, the mountains, the ocean, or their loved ones faces. And they never will.
My vision is not perfect. It’s actually blurry in the distance and I wear glasses to drive, but I can see. I once said that I was going to donate my eyes when I died so someone could have my corneas. An old friend laughed, “You wear glasses! Who’d want your eyes?” That statement brings my point home. She couldn’t grasp the fact that someone else would be so grateful to see with glasses. Rather than being in the dark.
Another point to ponder is being able to see color. Approximately 300 million human beings have color impairment. Most are men. As an outdoor enthusiast, traveler, photographer, and graphic artist, I cannot imagine not experiencing color. I have watched videos of people putting on color-correcting glasses. It’s so awesome to see their reactions. I’ve heard people say that “God is colorblind” in regard to people. On the contrary, the Lord created a bright, vibrant, colorful world and he spread his endless color pallet across all creation, even man. The variety should be embraced with gratitude for those of us blessed with the ability to see the colors!
I Can Hear!
What are you listening to right now? Can you hear people, cars, or a passing plane that often annoys you? Is there a bird singing nearby? Are you listening to music? There are ten million people in the world who are hard of hearing. Only 17 percent of those use a hearing aid. Some refuse due to pride, many others have no access to hearing assistance. In addition, almost a million people are functionally deaf with no hope of ever hearing anything.
Again, I’ve watched videos of people hearing for the first time after receiving corrective surgery. I would highly recommend watching a few. It’s humbling to see someone so emotionally moved to receive something I’ve always had and tend to take for granted.
When I was younger, I went to every concert I could get to. Rock and Roll! Now my ears ring. It bothers me most at night. I get to sleep by focusing on everything else that I can hear, including traffic at times. The bottom line, I damaged myself, but I’m grateful that I can still hear. And most of the concerts were awesome!
Taking Conveniences for Granted
Since I’m an American, and my readers will probably be in the U.S., I’ll focus this section on home.
Most of us have a roof over our heads, food in our belly, and a functioning car in the driveway. Just flip a switch and we have lights. We push a button, and the heat or air conditioning comes on to keep us comfortable. Many are programmable and we don’t even push the button! We turn on the faucet and water flows; hot or cold, our choice. When we go to the bathroom and flush the toilet, do we ever think about so many people around the world without this luxury. We have computers, phones, televisions, ovens, toasters, blenders, and more.
Now I realize that many Americans are struggling financially today. I won’t go into my thoughts about that! There are also families dealing with sick children, elderly parents, and other horrific circumstances. In no way am I attempting to dimmish their trials. But, for most of us, if we look around, we can find many blessings to be thankful for. The point is to take the time to look. It’s an intentional change of focus.
Thankful “IN” Everything
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. —1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The past year has been extremely difficult for me. It has been very difficult to rejoice, at times. I lost four long-time friends and my only uncle in 2021. How was I supposed to “give thanks” in these circumstances?
I’ve always said that grief is a selfish emotion if you know that your loved one’s faith was in the Lord. Knowing their destination should provoke celebration, but the effect their passing had on me overshadows their joy that they are in paradise. Selfish pain, but nonetheless real. Once I heard a woman who had lost her daughter say, “God blessed me with my daughter for 40 years. Some people never get that.” Perspective. I am not there, yet.
In some cases, a relationship ends because one party walks away. Again, a change of perspective is necessary. As in everything, we need to turn to God for his provision. Along with physical provision, He can provide emotional and spiritual support. I’ve found that He sends people into your life when you need them, or they need you, and they often move on. Keeping a grateful heart is dependent upon trusting the Lord to know more than we do about what, and who, we need in our lives, when and for how long.
Perspective
A change of focus will eventually take hold and help me cope with these losses in the same way I’ve learned to cope with life. I remain grateful, through the pain, that I had these people in my life. Given the choice to have never known them, ergo no pain now, I would have chosen the pain. Pain associated with a loss is just proof that you were blessed with a relationship that you cherished. The only way to avoid the pain of loss is not to love at all. To be alone.
Living with a Grateful Heart
Much of life is out of our control, but we must realize that our decisions, choices, are always tied to consequences. Growth requires change. Change your perspective. Find the blessing in what we’re going through. Change your focus. What have you learned and what do you have to work with? Especially focus on the people the Lord has blessed you with. Then the pressure lessens. Even the losses can be seen as blessings if we realize that the memories are worth the pain.
“Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:6-7
In other words, to maintain a grateful heart, we must:
- learn from our mistakes
- be grateful that those errors are behind us
- focus on pleasing God and not man
- and, most of all, seek God for wisdom in everything.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” –James 1:5
God Said Write!
I hope you enjoy my posts as I believe this blog was inspired by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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