In church this Sunday we were discussing the part in The Old Testament where Moses is leading the people through the desert and they were being provided Manna from heaven but later desired meat and complained and demanded meat from God. Our teacher asked this question: Is there a problem with wanting more? What kind of problems could arise with always wanting more?
This question got me to thinking. Some people in the class said you could go into debt buying things you wanted and didn't necessarily need. Your focus would be taken off of God and put more into worldly things rather than spiritual things. Those are all really good responses but I thought of another one.
I kept thinking that if you are always thinking about what you don't have and things you want are you able to see what you do have and be thankful for all your blessings?
Are you thankful that you were able to walk outside and smell the fresh air? Or did you even notice because you were grumbling about having to get up and get to work. What about the hospital bound, bed ridden patient that has to lay in bed all day, smelling antiseptic hospital smells?
Do you praise God every time you stub your toe or step on something hard? What about the person whose feet have lost all feeling because of something like diabetes who would find it a miraculous answer to prayer to feel the pain caused by a stubbed toe?
Are you so grateful for every breath you take that shows you are still alive, realizing that at that exact moment someone else may be breathing their last breath for this life?
Are you thankful you were able to witness that big sky sunset with a kaleidoscope of colors against the towering purple mountains and hazy layer of shaded clouds while someone else must live in perpetual darkness, never seeing anything?
Even the things that may seem unimportant are a blessing in your life, that is my point! I read once that it's important to thank God for everything you have, no matter how small. The book said to even thank God for your vacuum! It got me to thinking about all the things that you take for granted and don't even realize what a great blessing they are because they are always there. Well, what would you do if suddenly it wasn't there? Would you actually take the time to sweep your whole carpet with your broom, or get down on your hands and knees and try and pick up all the things that the vacuum sucks up effortlessly? Think about that for a minute...
Do you say a prayer of thanks for all the little things that help you throughout the day to get your job done more efficiently? Thanks for my car, thanks for my job, thanks for letting me see that smile full of happiness on the random child in the store, thanks for helping me be thankful for all the little things so that when I need to be thankful for all the big things, I am not blinded and can actually see them for what they are and then I can be truly thankful!
If you took a moment in your prayers to list all the things that you were thankful for throughout the day it would take you 2 weeks just to list the blessings found in 2 hours of your life, I guarantee it! There are people who touch your life, family and friends and even strangers that give you so many reasons to be grateful for what you already have. Let us never become so focused on what we don't have that we forget to acknowledge and become blind to the many blessings we do have. I would then admonish you to thank God for each and every one. I always see a quote that says:
What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?
Well???
Never take anything for granted, be thankful for what you have and as you do that, you will automatically receive more blessings and eventually get to a point beyond where you are and where you hope to be someday. It's through recognizing what you have, using that as your stepping stones to get farther and more, but never forget what you have already that help you on your journey of growth.
