Grateful for Protection
Yesterday, we remembered the 18th anniversary of 9/11. We mourn all those lost on this day. but we can be grateful when we think of those who rescued those hurt in this horrid event. There are also many people to thank for fighting for our freedom. This is an example of something for which we can be grateful.
Grateful for Health
Two years ago this week, I was admitted to the hospital to stabilize a medication level I was prescribed. My Neurologist at the time, over-prescribed my medication and I had several bad side effects. When I was in the emergency room, doctors realized that they had to call poison control because my levels of valproic acid were so great, that they had to get help. Doctors believed it was necessary to change medications and I was watched carefully. I am very grateful to the hospital and medical staff who handled my needs.
I am very grateful for my husband’s willingness to care for me so much for weeks when I was unable to walk and unable to eat regular food. His job allowed him to work from home so that he could consistently watch over me. Our church provided many meals and our pastor and many others came to visit also. I have so much to be grateful for in the middle of all of this situation. Most of all, I have God to thank for keeping me alive. Living a life of gratitude includes giving back in response to what is given to us.
Gratitude vs Pride
It is easy to be filled with pride though when we are not grateful for what we have, what is given to us or done to us. When we think we have our life all figured out and believe others are wrong, we are ungrateful. Now, that we have adult kids, I realize that I don’t know as much as I thought.
” The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know”
Albert Einstein
There is no perfect way to know we are handling situations with each of our kids, correctly. I have come to appreciate my parents more, with the hard decisions they had to make. They didn’t do it everything perfectly. Neither do I! Situations don’t come out like we expect. I have to give grace, instead of being prideful, that I have figured everything out.
A Way of Life
Often, we think of Thanksgiving as a one-time a year event. We plan our food and who we will celebrate with. Gratitude, being thankful, is not an event, it is a regular habit, a way of life. It is an attitude in our life, not pride where we believe we deserve items or circumstances to be just right for us.
I find that the enemy of gratitude is pride, bitterness and entitlement. We aren’t grateful when we hold our own wants and expectations as well as anger in a higher position than thankfulness, gratitude.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17