Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus – Thessalonians 5:16-18.
John had finally hit bottom: his small law firm was failing; he was struggling through a painful divorce; his two older children were becoming distant, and he was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter; he was living in a tiny apartment where he froze in the winter and baked in the summer; he was 40 pounds overweight; and overall, his dearest life dreams seemed to have slipped beyond his reach.
Then, during a desperate walk in the hills, John was struck by the belief that his life might become at least tolerable if, instead of focusing on what he didn’t have, he could find some way to be grateful for what he had.
John imagined that he might find a way to feel grateful by writing thank-you notes. He had just received a thank you note from a friend, and frankly, that was about the only ray of sunshine in his life at that moment. So, he wondered, what if I wrote one thank-you note every day?
One by one, day after day, he began to handwrite thank-yous – for gifts or kindnesses he’d received from loved ones and coworkers, from past business associates and current foes, from college friends and doctors and store clerks and handymen and neighbors, and anyone, really, absolutely anyone, who’d done him a good turn, however large or small. Immediately after he’d sent his very first notes, significant and surprising benefits began to come John’s way–from financial gain to true friendship, from weight loss to inner peace. While John wrote his notes, the economy collapsed, and the bank across the street from his office failed, but thank-you note by thank-you note, John’s whole life turned around.
In his book A Simple Act of Gratitude, this ordinary man talks of how to live a miraculously good life. It all comes down to being thankful. John says, “It’s our natural tendency to notice the 9 bad things that happen each day, but instead, what would happen if we focused on the one good thing?”
I would have to agree. God designed us to experience the fullness of life by rejoicing in it, and by being thankful, regardless of the circumstances. A life of thankfulness towards others not only changes us but also allows us to invest in others’ joy and well-being.
This holiday allows us to focus on our blessings and to be grateful for each one. But, I wonder, what would happen if you made every day a day of Thanksgiving?
Wishing you Faith for today,
Roy
