Thanksgiving has passed and for some, so has the short-lived gratitude. We can quickly count, however, all the things that are wrong in our lives, our country and in the world. ‘Tis the season for dissatisfaction!
But not for any of us right? Hopefully when dissatisfaction creeps in, we recognize it and restart our gratitude factory until we’re back to reality, knowing that we have it pretty good.
Even if it’s not what we hoped for, even if 2020 has been devastating to us, most of us can admit we still have it pretty good. We’re breathing. Most of us are still far better than people in less-abundant countries. If you’ve traveled internationally much, you know this to be true.
There’s a reading in Finding the Gift about having a toothache. When we have a toothache, it’s all we can think about. We would be just so happy if that toothache was gone. Everything else would be great or at least manageable. But what happens when the toothache is relieved? After a day or two, we forget about our relief and gratitude. It’s easy to find other things to complain about, or wish were different.
I want to challenge all of us to remember that we are living facets of our lives that, one day in the past, we prayed would be true. What are those things in your life that are better today, that weren’t as you wanted them a month ago, or a year ago? You gave them a lot of energy and wished and prayed they were different. Now they are! Make a list, right now of those circumstances that improved. Keep it somewhere visible. This is the real gift list. This is the one that
matters most.
Your personal gift list is the one that helps you decide what kind day you’re going to have.
As you’re making your other gift lists, won’t you make this one too? How does this strike you today? Can you overcome whatever challenges you’re facing in this moment and find the gifts that are present also?
Are you willing to be happy? Sometimes I’m not. Sometimes I have this awareness and I think no, I’m not done being miserable. If that’s where you are, at least you know it. We can pray for the willingness to be willing to let optional misery go and choose to be happy today.
We are never given more than we can handle without a way out from under it. Perspective is that way! I need this reminder as well because it’s too easy to start taking our many gifts for granted.
Let’s celebrate (year-round) the gifts we possess, not just the ones under the tree this holiday season. Remember, holidays are a heightened time of celebration for what's true all year long. In other words, let the holidays serve as heightened awareness, but not the only awareness of our abundant gifts.
