During the month of November, every year, I see people posting on Facebook everyday, something they are thankful for. Some call it “30 Days of Thankfulness” or “The Season of Thanksgiving.” And some will post here and there and then say “we really should be thankful everyday.” But then the month ends and people forget about being thankful and move into a state of busyness and trying to get the latest deals and the next great toy that their kids want. What happens is that people forget that being thankful isn’t just a season. It isn’t just being grateful for those “big” things like getting a job or being healed or buying a car. Of course those are things we should definitely be thankful for, but we can not forget about all the smaller or everyday things. Did you sleep in a warm bed? Be thankful. Did you have a hot shower? Be thankful. Did you find clothes in your closet to put on? Be thankful. Did you eat breakfast? Be thankful. If you create a lifestyle of being thankful for everything good thing in your life, it will be harder to bring you down. Daily thankfulness is what brings true JOY. Daily thankfulness will help you continue to have true joy, even amidst the hard times.
Joyfulness is a choice. You can choose to be negative or you can choose to be thankful. Be careful not to ‘cancel out’ your thankfulness. We just bought a house. It is the perfect size and space for our family. But there are many things that are outdated and/or need fixing. I could focus on all that needs to be done, which could create a lot of negativity surrounding this blessing and cause me to be unthankful for it. Or I could be thankful that God led us to this house, that it is clean, and the kids are happy to have more room for their toys. Don’t say “thank you” in one breath and say “but” in the next. It is okay to want more and strive for better, but be thankful and content with what you have now. That is how you will begin to experience TRUE JOY.
Begin small. Thank God for creating chickens so you can have scrambled eggs for breakfast. Thank Him for trees so that you have a table to sit at. Thank Him for cotton so that you have comfortable clothes to wear. It may sound silly, but the more you practice simple thankfulness, the more joyful life you will lead.
How are you leading a joyful life? What are some small things that you are thankful for?
This blog is very encouraging. I am so very thankful for God revealing His love to me in the midst of the seasons of my life–both the good and the rough seasons. Joy is a choice, not a feeling. If we are fixed on one thing that we think will make us happy, then all the other blessings will fall by the wayside unnoticed.