Thanks Living. Is it harder somedays?

Thanks Living.

Is it really harder to give thanks some days than others? Or do we just find it harder because we are focused on the 'bad'. 

This morning, a headache woke me up. That doesn't happen very often, for usually it's the back/leg pain that awakens me. However, on occasion, the headache screams louder than the back pain. That was the case this morning. 

As I got up, it was not a hard choice to reach for the headache medicine instead of the pain medicine. As I think about my agenda today, I did not include this level of headache pain. I know.... that's lack of planning on my part. 

😜

But as I was thinking about Thanks Living, I almost started to write, "somedays it's much harder to be thankful." But then I stopped. Is it really? There are many things that have been constant which I give thanks for on a daily basis. Yet, why would I allow a headache to change my focus to unthankfulness? 

Thanks Living. There are some days where gratitude and thankfulness are not my focus. And that is NOT because of lack of things for which to be thankful. Rather, it's because I CHOOSE not to be thankful. WOW. That's just sad. 

Thanks Living. I need to remember that "in all things give thanks". I need to remember that Thanks Living is not based upon how I feel, or the circumstances I find myself. Thanks Living is a mindset.... no make that a heartset. Thanks Living is based on the fact that God loves me and each day His mercies are new. Thanks Living is based on the fact that God cares for me and is concerned about all the details in my life. Thanks Living is a CHOICE! 

So, it doesn't matter that my headache level is at screaming mode. It doesn't matter. The only thing that really matters, is that God is still in control and His love for me is unconditional. The only thing that matters is that I choose to be thankful. 

Today, I'm making a choice—I will enjoy a day filled with "Thanks Living!" Will you join me?

Thanks Living: Unthankful

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Don't think being unthankful is a 'big deal'? Read these verses again.

Look at the list:

Lovers of themselves: friend; expresses experience-based love

Lovers of money: greedy

Boasters: empty pretender

Proud: with an overweening estimate of one's means or merits, despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty

Blasphemers: speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, abusive

Disobedient to parents: impersuasible, uncompliant, contumacious

UNTHANKFUL: ungracious

Unholy: impious, wicked

Unloving: without natural affection

Unforgiving: implacable, irreconcilable

Slanderers: prone to accuse falsely

Without self-control: given to or characterized by excessive indulgence

Brutal: fierce, savage

Despisers of good: hostile to virtue and to those that are good

Traitors: betrayer

Headstrong: rash, reckless, act without thinking

Haughty: to inflate with self-conceit, high-minded

Lovers of pleasure: characterized by luxury or sensual pleasure

RATHER THAN: it is opposed to something else and does away with it

Lovers of God: fond of God, i.e. Pious 

Having the form of godliness: appearance of respect of God

Denying: disavow, reject, abnegate, refuse

Power: strength, mighty (wonderful) work

Turn away: to shun, avoid

We all would have to agree that we do like people who exhibit these characteristics. And included in this list is "unthankful". So, it is a big deal. 

Unthankful. Ungrateful. 

Not feeling or showing pleasure, relief, or gratitude.

Careless, cruel, heedless, inappreciative, rude, self-centered, thoughtless, unappreciated, unappreciative, ungracious, ungrateful, unmindful.

Unthankful. 

This is an attitude that makes us bitter and open to all the other characteristics lists in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Look at the list again. If one is truly thankful, than that sets self aside. And to me, this list looks like the focus is on "me, myself, and I".  Perhaps beginning with changing the attitude of "unthankful" to "thankful", the entire list would change to characteristics of true lovers of God. 

Thanks Living, is important as it is one of the foundations for truly loving God and respecting and honoring God. 

My prayer is that I have a thankful heart and attitude.