An Attitude of Gratitude

 

One of the things you may or may not know about me is that my father was an alcoholic.  I say that not to seek your pity or your sympathy, but to help you understand who I am.    My Dad was a good man and had many wonderful attributes, but he  also faced an addiction to alcohol that left scars on his life and the life of his family.    For many years, I shunned or avoided facing how his alcoholism affected my life but began to come to terms with it about 30 years ago.   For several years, I attended regularly a support group for adult children of alcoholics.    The group meant a lot to me in those years, and I grew a lot through my attendance.  One day, one of the other group members talked about making a gratitude list.    I discovered that a gratitude list was simply a list of those things that you are grateful for in your life.   Though I have not attended an adult children of alcoholic group in decades, I still remember the gratitude list and find meaning in doing that.       I find myself feeling led to do the same this time of year  as Thanksgiving Day approaches and we get closer to the end of the year.     

 

Perhaps there are some in anger or sadness wondering  what there is to be thankful and grateful for in 2020.   Many have faced the loss of jobs or income… sickness… school stoppage.   I thought about that when I read the book of Philippians recently.    Paul certainly faced his challenges.   While many see him as the great missionary and an apostle, that does not mean that life was easy.    He writes the Book of Philippians while he is in prison for his faith in Christ Jesus.   We also know that he was facing a “thorn in the flesh” though no one knows exactly what that was.   Despite all of that, read  these words that we find in Philippians 4:  4-7: 

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In those words, we find the words of Paul ooze with words like “rejoice”, “thanksgiving”, and “peace” despite the imprisonment and “thorn in the flesh” that he faces.    Paul sees gratitude despite it all.    Despite the challenges of 2020 for all of us, my heart feels gratitude.  Here are a few things on my gratitude list in these days:

·         I am grateful for my family (my wife, children, grandchildren, and others) as I remember those who have lost loved ones this year to COVID-19 and other illnesses

·         I am thankful for the priviledge to be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and share the love of Christ Jesus as I remember those who have lost jobs or do a job they do not love

·         I am thankful for my health knowing so many who face health challenges

·         I am grateful that the social distancing and staying at home has allowed me to spend more time in God’s word and prayer this year

These are some things on my gratitude list in November, 2020.   I encourage you to write your own.  Have a joy-filled week.-  Pastor Randy Wall

  

PRAYER

            Lord God,  you are the giver of all good things.   You are the one from whom all blessings flow.     Thank you for all the blessings in my life.   Give me a heart to see all the goodness that is so freely given;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.