An Attitude of Gratitude

     How often do we have an attitude of gratitude?  Are you satisfied with what you have or do you require more?  Why do we feel the need to have more "stuff"?  This is something that I have been pondering for a while.  In my life as well as my families life.  I think that we are a society driven by consumerism that feels that if we don't have the newest and best new "toys" that we can't live.  The commercial hype drives us to want it more and more. Sometimes it is like a disease, the want keeps spreading to our brain and making us crazy thinking about it.  We need to detox from all of the hype and get back to a simpler life.  I think in the end that we will be happier. 
     I have been reading a book called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp.  It is an interesting book so far.  It is a dare to live fully right where you are in life right now. She talks about Eucharisteo, thanksgiving. Chara, the greek word for Joy.  Joyful thanksgiving.   It has gotten me thinking.  Do we always thank Jesus for what we have?  Do we thank him for the bad as well as the good?  Jesus gave thanks in every situation he was placed in. Ultimately he gave his life for us to have a joyful thanksgiving. God wants us to be happy.  He wants us to be thankful too.  I like in Philippians 4:11-12 where Paul talks about being content for what he has.  How he has learned to be content whether his cup is full or empty.  Wow, is he talking to me or what?
       When you see a task at hand do you sigh and get mad because you have to do it or do you thank God that you are able to move and be able to do the task?  I am guilty as everyone else is.  I am trying to change this. Once again, not always an easy task when I come across the banana peel left on the counter and the knife with Nutella all over the handle. Instead of blowing up and yelling at the offender child I try and take a deep breath, throw the peel away, clean the knife and move on.  When I see the pile of dirty dishes scattered in the kitchen I am reminded of a poem that hung in my mother's kitchen.

Thank God for dirty dishes;
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We're eating very well
With home, health, and happiness,
I shouldn't want to fuss;
By the stack of evidence,
God's been very good to us.


     I try and teach my boys to be thankful for what they have and not to always be coming to me with their hand out for something more.  Sometimes this is harder for all of us than not.  Do we really need to have that name brand shirt that is three times the price of the store brand?  Not really, but we WANT the name brand because we are worried about what people will say if they find out we are wearing the not name brand shirt. This is society and commercialism talking.  I would rather be able to buy three off brand shirts and something else I need or want rather than the high dollar name brand.  I don't get so upset then when I get something on that shirt either! When the boys want a name brand item I try to gently remind them of this too.  I make my boys do chores around the house as well as cook every so often.  They are not going to think that they need to be waited on hand and foot for everything. Just because I don't work outside of the house on a full time basis doesn't mean that they are free of chores.  They both know how and do their own laundry. They can both successfully and quite tastefully cook a meal.   One day they will appreciate this skill that I have taught them! 
     Every day I try and remember to thank God for even the little things, not just the "big ticket items", but the "add on items" that makes life more enjoyable.  The color of the clouds as the sun kisses them with it's first or last rays, the silly antics of the birds in my back yard as they look for food. The smell of my coffee as it brews. The cool breeze that comes through the window cooling my house. The aching muscles after walking.   The nudge of a wet dog nose on my leg. These things are the things that we need to remember to be thanking God for too.  The "big ticket items" are easy to be thankful for, but can you imagine starting your day and looking out and the world was just black and white? We wouldn't like that too much!  Be thankful for the little things that God has done for you to make your life more enjoyable.  If he does this for us here on Earth, can you imagine what Heaven will be like?  Wow! It blows my mind to think of what is in store for us there.  I  don't want to miss that show.  Thank you God.  Thank you God for the "add on items" that you think of to "upgrade" my life daily.  Please help me Lord to always have an attitude of gratitude.  Teach me daily to live fully in the moment where I am now.