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Being thankful, for me, is the easiest of the three instructions. However, remembering to always give thanks is the trick. Just tonight, as I sat down to eat, with a lot on my mind, I had the first fork of food on my lips when I realized I hadn't given thanks - for my day, for my food, for anything.
With the recent news coverage of Hurricane Harvey, it's very easy for me to stop and give thanks - health, life, family, a roof over my head and food on our table. I think as I stop to give thanks, is when the important "a-has" come. I can look at my gifts and blessings and see how I can better help those in need.
I was at a church meeting, earlier this evening, and it was interesting to watch how the discussion moved from an inward focus on our own church business to an outward focus on how we might help those displaced by the storm. Now I won't say that this attitude shift originated out of a sense of thanksgiving, but as the conversation went on, you could tell how those involved in the discussion were thankful for their own blessings and prepared to reach out to others in this time of need.
I wonder if our meeting had started first by being thankful for our own blessings if we might not have moved to the discussion of helping others sooner?
When you stop and intentionally give thanks, do you find yourself wanting to "pay it forward"? When you give thanks, to you find that your problems aren't as big as you previously thought? Do you find that it's easier to be joyful and to pray?
As a United Methodist, I encourage folks to support UMCOR - the United Methodist Committee on Relief. UMCOR has already put together information on how you can help folks who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. This includes financial donations, of course, but also praying for those impacted as well as for the first/early responders, making relief kits and more. Just remember, in helping others, don't forget to be thankful for your own blessings.
~~Ken
Part 1 of this series: Knowing God's Will
Part 2 of this series: Rejoice Always
Part 3 of this series: Pray Without Ceasing
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