LIFE'S SIMPLE BLESSINGS
Years ago I had a friend who dreamed of being a doctor. Unfortunately, both his grades and finances nixed that possibility. Rather than surrendering his plans to the Lord and accepting the life God gave him, he complained frequently about his job as a teacher, and felt life had cheated him.
It was sad to witness. He focused so much on what he didn’t have, he failed to enjoy what he did have—a supportive wife and family, a comfortable home, his church, and an influential profession. But all that meant little to him since he couldn’t practice medicine.
Ecclesiastes 2:24 instructs us to be thankful for life’s simple blessings. “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.” Ecclesiastes repeats this theme six times (3:12; 3:22; 5:18; 8:15 and 9:7-9.) Rather than grumbling over what you don’t have, enjoy what you do you have. If God gives you steak, enjoy it. If you’re eating ground beef, enjoy it. If all you have is beans, enjoy it. Otherwise, you’re opening the door to a miserable life.
The secret of joy isn’t having what you want, it’s wanting what you have. It’s not doing what you love, it’s loving what you do. Read those words again. A career as a teacher may not be what my friend wanted, but it’s amazing in many ways. Millions of folks would trade places with him in a heartbeat. There’s a word for this quality. I’ll bet you’ve heard of it: “gratitude.”
In mourning Linda’s passing, at times I get sucked into a vortex of sadness like my friend. Focusing on what I don’t have requires no effort. But practicing the discipline of gratitude produces profound freedom. I turn my eyes to my blessings—family, friends, church, fifty years with a wonderful woman, and my little dog Rocket. Most of all, a Father in heaven who loves me in ways I can’t comprehend. Remembering those simple blessings keeps me afloat.
For the next thirty days, take the Gratitude Challenge. Make a gratitude list, and when sorrow overwhelms you, deliberately focus on your blessings. Allow grateful thoughts to pour over you like a refreshing, warm shower. You’ll be glad you did. There’s no way to go wrong when we live in gratitude for life’s simple blessings.
Principle: Rather than focusing on what we don’t have, let’s focus on what we do have.
Ponder:
In what situations do you find yourself automatically focusing on what you don’t have, rather than what you do have?
What are some items you will include on your gratitude list?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Ecclesiastes 2:24-3:14.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for burying me in blessings. Open my eyes to see what I have, rather than focusing on what I don’t have.