Have you ever thought of what the affect of thankfulness has on your heart and mind?
Have you ever REALLY thought about it?
Have you ever REALLY thought about it?
God tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances". Have you ever considered what this means? ALL circumstances, not just the easy ones, but also the difficult ones.
For the past year I have been BATTLING intestinal issues. It's not fun. It's sometimes very embarrassing when you have a bellyful of gas and you have to be somewhere and you know you're going to end up farting (and probably not quietly either) or when you end up burping loudly. It's NOT FUN.
But God says.. in this... give thanks. And I can give thanks.. I am not housebound like a lady I know with worse intestinal problems than what I have. I have to deal with discomfort and embarrassment...she needs to deal with far worse. It gives me empathy for people who struggle with difficult illnesses and it reminds me of what I mentioned to a man who suffers dreadfully with migraines... If he didn't have migraines, would he care so deeply when others suffer illness? He said "no, I wouldn't even think about it."
My son recently experienced something that made him VERY upset...so upset it makes him cry and be angry and force himself to be really busy so he doesn't have to think about it. And he was "MOM... how do I stop thinking about it"? The first thing out of my mouth was let's pray first, and then we will thank God for all the good things he has given you. All of them.. from your hair all the way down to your toes. That's what we do buddy. It helps us to think differently.
For the past year I have been BATTLING intestinal issues. It's not fun. It's sometimes very embarrassing when you have a bellyful of gas and you have to be somewhere and you know you're going to end up farting (and probably not quietly either) or when you end up burping loudly. It's NOT FUN.
But God says.. in this... give thanks. And I can give thanks.. I am not housebound like a lady I know with worse intestinal problems than what I have. I have to deal with discomfort and embarrassment...she needs to deal with far worse. It gives me empathy for people who struggle with difficult illnesses and it reminds me of what I mentioned to a man who suffers dreadfully with migraines... If he didn't have migraines, would he care so deeply when others suffer illness? He said "no, I wouldn't even think about it."
My son recently experienced something that made him VERY upset...so upset it makes him cry and be angry and force himself to be really busy so he doesn't have to think about it. And he was "MOM... how do I stop thinking about it"? The first thing out of my mouth was let's pray first, and then we will thank God for all the good things he has given you. All of them.. from your hair all the way down to your toes. That's what we do buddy. It helps us to think differently.
This Rabbit is Biscuit. Biscuit is very much my rabbit and doesn't much care for others (rabbit or people). She is such an independent alone rabbit that she's been given special accommodations away from other rabbits in the middle of our yard. :) She's temperamental and pushy... but I love her to bits and am thankful to God for her. Why?
1. she gives large litters and her kits do not have her personality. :)
2. she's an excellent rabbit to use to teach others what a rabbit is saying when they act a certain way.
3. She's an excellent and very direct teacher. I've learned so much from this rabbit in terms of rewarding good behaviour, being watchful of body language, and how to communicate that to others.
4. she's improving but she remains an excellent watchbunny...but for family and friends...she will happily accept treats! :)
Reality in life is that most breeders would have culled her for temperament issues. But I held on to her because her father was special to me and she's the last of his line. And she's becoming more like her dad the longer she lives. God is gracious to me with my bunnies and often surprises me. :)
Thankfulness opens our hearts to more.
Thankfulness gives us options to consider more than just ourselves.
Thankfulness changes our perspective.
Thankfulness means that we lose ourselves and our own selfish desires as we turn our hearts to the one that called us to be more.
Who do we thank?
God, the one who created and designed us,
God the one who knows our whole life, even before we know it,
God, who watches over us daily.. every moment of our lives..
God, the one who wills us to be thankful (like commanding us to do so)
He is concerned with us and he is the one we are thankful for.
Thank God today.. it will change your whole perspective. :)
This post is written to be part of the Being Thankful blog cruise from the Schoolhouse Review Crew. :) It will be posted on the 19th of November.
1. she gives large litters and her kits do not have her personality. :)
2. she's an excellent rabbit to use to teach others what a rabbit is saying when they act a certain way.
3. She's an excellent and very direct teacher. I've learned so much from this rabbit in terms of rewarding good behaviour, being watchful of body language, and how to communicate that to others.
4. she's improving but she remains an excellent watchbunny...but for family and friends...she will happily accept treats! :)
Reality in life is that most breeders would have culled her for temperament issues. But I held on to her because her father was special to me and she's the last of his line. And she's becoming more like her dad the longer she lives. God is gracious to me with my bunnies and often surprises me. :)
Thankfulness opens our hearts to more.
Thankfulness gives us options to consider more than just ourselves.
Thankfulness changes our perspective.
Thankfulness means that we lose ourselves and our own selfish desires as we turn our hearts to the one that called us to be more.
Who do we thank?
God, the one who created and designed us,
God the one who knows our whole life, even before we know it,
God, who watches over us daily.. every moment of our lives..
God, the one who wills us to be thankful (like commanding us to do so)
He is concerned with us and he is the one we are thankful for.
Thank God today.. it will change your whole perspective. :)
This post is written to be part of the Being Thankful blog cruise from the Schoolhouse Review Crew. :) It will be posted on the 19th of November.
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