An Attitude of Gratitude....

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."

- Brian Tracy

I am going to see about getting this put on our living room wall to remind me of what I am grateful for in life. If you know me, you know that I look at life's successes and failures as a learning opportunity.  I recently thanked someone for something and was blown away by the fact that they questioned my intentions. I would not have offered my thanks unless I really truly meant it.  Instead of accepting my thanks, this particular person not only attacked my reasons, but also my integrity.  I could have become really upset and angry but I realized that it was a learning opportunity.  How often do we have people compliment us or thank us for things and in return we question their motives?  I am sure some of it has to do with past experience but many times it has to do with how many people view being thankful and compliments.

See many times we give compliments and thanks as a way of either having things go in our favor or to get our way.  When we take on an attitude of gratitude, that way of thinking goes out the window and instead of being suspicious etc., we try to accept compliments and thanks.  We also find that it is easier to compliment and thank others.  So in a way, it is a symbiotic relationship of sorts.  In the end, both parties benefit.  However, there will always be the naysayers.

In order to deal with the negative people and naysayers, I transcribe to Paul's train of thought, "Do not become weary in doing good but at the proper you will reap a harvest if you do not give up".  Though we may not see the benefits for years or even decades, we should be content in knowing that doing the right thing has its rewards. Paul also writes in the church at Philippi, "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.". Once we master being able to give and thank others, we are more aware of the positive things that come our way and to be happy in EVERY situation.  For example: When you are sick and people help you out, you are more willing to help someone else who is sick and hopefully in turn they are able to help someone else.  Though your rewards may not be monetary, doing the right thing no matter how hard, should be something that makes us happy and even proud.

So where am I going with this?  Well as I mentioned, I am going to have this put on our living room wall to remind me daily of what it means to be thankful and open to receive blessings. Things for me have not always been as great as they are now, but during that time I remembered that even though I was miserable and poor,  that I could help others and encourage them as well.  After my divorce, I had absolutely nothing.  Instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for myself, I was convicted to act.  When I was helping others, my own situation didn't seem so bad and things started to look up.

Recently, you might have seen me doing more encouraging and thanking people who have helped me, Bill or Chloe even with the littlest things.  I do know that without wonderful people around me and my family, I would not be able to do what I have done so far in regards to getting through deployment, school, and my gastric bypass. We should all be aspiring to be better people because when we become apathetic not only do we suffer the consequences, other people do as well.  So moving forward, take on an attitude of gratitude and I bet that you'll see things from a different perspective and if you don't you might want to examine your intentions.  I know that is hard sometimes to face the issues but if you don't face them they eventually come back up time and time again.  Yes life is hard, but I am thankful that I can look back and see where God carried me and brought me through the hardest of circumstances. Remember, we may weep now, but joy comes in the morning!!!