Christen Rouson

This post may not have a lot of frills and thrills.  I hope you are still inspired…

| Simply Thankful |

Obviously the Thanksgiving season is here and in full effect… T minus 7 days until Turkey Day!!!  While I have spent the last 15 days of November reading what others have posted for 30 Days of Thankful and shared my the sentiments of my heart as well, I have found myself amazed.  This initiative has challenged the participants to dig deep and think hard, thanking God for some things that may be a bit beneath the surface and even a blessing in disguise.  I too have found myself each day searching my life for things to be grateful for that are “deeper” than just the air we breathe and the green grass.  Then I felt convicted as God challenged me with these questions, “Aren’t you grateful for the little things too?  Do they not matter?”  When I stopped and considered, He was right (as always).  Too often we overlook some of the simple things in life…you know, we can’t see the forrest for the trees.  It is too easy to become entitled, ungrateful, and even forgetful of the little pieces that God works together to create the masterpiece of our lives.  So with an overwhelmingly grateful heart, here is what I would like to say to Him…

Dear God,

You are so amazing.  Thank you for EVERYTHING…literally everything!  Please forgive me for the times that I overlooked your blessings, great or small, because I thought I deserved them.  Forgive me for the moments that I was so entitled that I thought it was solely my paycheck that kept the bills paid, my qualifications that kept me employed, and my last name that opened doors for me.  Forgive me for not appreciating the “common things” as much as I do the large answered prayers and the spectacular blessings.  Thank you for clean running water; my sisters and brothers in Flint lacked that.  Thank you for a roof over my head; there are some who sleep under bridges and on benches each night.  Thank you for the use of my five senses, no matter how well those senses may or may not function.  Thank you for soap to bathe with, toothpaste to clean my teeth with, and all that I need to upkeep my hygiene; this isn’t available to everyone.  Thank you that I can speak, sing, and coherently express myself.  Thank you that I can walk and stand.  Thank you for allowing me to be in my right mind.  There are so many things that I could thank you for, even things that I can’t remember; however, what I do know is that you are at the core of every blessing that I have.  Please accept my praise, and please never take your hand off of my life.  I love you with all of me.

Amen

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

Today I challenge you to take a moment and thank God for everything…the good, bad, ugly, indifferent, and even that in which you don’t understand.  Whether or not you have all that you want, whether or not this is a season of sowing or reaping, and whether or not you feel like it, give thanks.

For all that I have and all that I lack, for all that I’ve gained and all that I’ve lost, for all that I am and all that I’ve yet to become, and for the blessings great and small, I am simply thankful…

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 [New Living Translation]

I hope this helps.

-Chris ❤