An Attitude Of Gratitude

It sure feels great to be home.

After a week out of town, training for my new job, I was so ready to get back home.  It's funny though, because the week leading up to the time I left, I was getting selfish and grumpy, and was focusing on a couple of the things in my life that I was not totally happy with. 

It's uncanny how you really appreciate what you have after you have been away from it for awhile. 

This has been a year more than any other I can recall, where I have needed to constantly remind myself of just how much I have to be thankful for.  My life is far from perfect, but I have been so blessed. 

My wife is the most amazing woman in this world.  She has been through so much with me, and has put up with so much from me.  I definitely don't deserve to have a wife like her.  As I write this I'm thinking back over all the years of our decade of separations and divorce proceedings.  It was an emotional tsunami for sure.  Truly, it's a miracle that we made it through that dark period of our life together.  Thank You Lord!

And I have so much more to thankful for as well.  I have a wonderful daugther and son, both of whom I love dearly. 

I have true friends who stick close to me no matter what, and who encourage me along the way—friends and brothers who are with me in the foxhole of life—who I know always have my back.  I am very thankful for my new job. And even though it was fairly difficult at the time, I am thankful for the 14 months of unemployment I endured, which taught me patience and humility, and it will also help me appreciate my new job when times may get tough along the road to come.

So I have so much more to be thankful for than I could possibly ever have to complain about.

It's all about having an attitude of gratitude.

The reason I was getting grumpy before I left for my week of training, is that I was focusing on myself and my wants, instead of focusing on my wife's needs and the the needs of others.  Self focus is a joy killer, because when I focus on 'me' I tend to look at the few minor things that are wrong with my life, instead of counting my many blessings and demonstrating my love and thankfulness to God, and to others.

I've been separated, I've been divorced, and I've lost both my parents.  I've suffered through extended periods of loneliness and joblessness and I've had some health issues that were difficult to endure.  So I have compassion on those going through painfully difficult times.  But if you have received Jesus Christ as the Savior of your soul—you have everything to be thankful for—no matter how difficult your circumstances my currently be.

True J.O.Y. is focusing on Jesus first—Others next—and Yourself last.   It's the secret to a happy life.

If you've been a follower of Christ for any length of time, you know that suffering is a part of our temporary life on this fallen planet.  But, as the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:18, the difficulty of our present suffering cannot compare with the glorious life that awaits us when we finally meet Jesus Christ our Lord face-to-face.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble—but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."  We have been set free from the law of sin and death, to love God, and serve Him, and serve other people. 

Jesus also said "It is far better to give than to receive."

So reach out today and really love and encourage someone.  By taking your focus off of yourself and by being thankful to God for all He has done for you, your grumpiness and depression should turn into joy—if you truly have an attitude of gratitude.

No matter what else—if you have Jesus Christ as the Savior of your soul—it truly is a wonderful life.

And it is this life in Christ, because of His amazing sacrifice, love and grace, that I am most thankful for.

Blessings to you.

—God is Love, and Love Never Fails.