It has been such a long time since I have posted anything here. I have been so busy here at the end of the year with the holiday and all things that come with it. But as we begin 2009, I have been thinking about 2008. No doubt that this year has brought it challenges! However, I cannot help but think of all the things that I have been blessed with..........therefore I have determined that my name is GRATITUDE.
Hello Anxiety....my name is Gratitude. While you try to dominate my life with your naggings of finances in a time of economic instability...I am grateful. Unlike many in the world, I have a roof over my head. I have heat. I have a switch that I flip and the lights come on. I have this big metal thing that automatically fills with clean water and it swirls around and my clothes come out clean. I also have this other metal thing that spins around and my clean wet clothes come out dry. I have yet another metal thing that has wheels. It takes me to a job, to the doctor when we are sick. It takes me to church, school, the grocery store, the park and to my Daddy's house. I also have a shiny silver thing that you turn the knob on and clean drinking water comes out.
MY NAME IS GRATITUDE.
Hello Fear....my name is Gratitude. When you try to paralyze me with your taunts...I am grateful. I am grateful for the peace that God speaks over me when I ask for it. When my youngest son travels halfway across the world in a big metal thing that cruises 37,000 feet in the air, I am grateful for a God who loves him more than I do. When my two other sons come and go back and forth from college and work, I am grateful that they arrive safely. I am grateful that they have big metal things with wheels. Fear....when you try and overcome me with your choking feeling over the loss of my husband's job--I am grateful that he had one in the first place. And that I still have mine. I think of poor children in Rowanda who break rocks all day to earn a meager wage to support their families...denied of an education to perform this job, they have no hope of a better life.
MY NAME IS GRATITUDE.
Hello Pride....my name is Gratitude. When you try to blind me and distort my thoughts...I am grateful. Grateful to a God who gently reminds me that pride has no place in our lives. We are who we are only because of Him. And because He loved us first. I am grateful for friends and family who can hold me accountable. When I begin to think that I am "all that"--I am grateful for ANY reminder that shows me that I am not. No matter how embarrassing the reminder might be. Because Pride, MY NAME IS GRATITUDE.
Hello anything that seperates me from God...my name is Gratitude. When I become romanced by your good looks and enticing ways, I am grateful. Grateful that I know the difference. Grateful that I have become mature enough to know your ways and to not succomb to them. Grateful that I can recognize you a million miles away--most of the time. And when I can't, I become acutely aware of the ONE thing for which I am MOST grateful. Matter of fact, I am overwhelmed with gratitude over this One thing. I simply cannot describe my gratitude for this One thing. This One thing IS my everything. This One thing is the axis on which my world pivots. This One thing gives me hope for 2009 and security for my future. This One thing gives my life purpose and meaning. This One thing is how I measure my life and my love for family. This One thing for which I am eternally grateful is this......
Jesus Christ.
The One.
The Only.
Hello Jesus....My name is Gratitude.
3 comments:
when i grow up, i wanna be like jackie.
Jackie, this is one of the most powerful posts/devotionals I have ever read. Thank you for keeping my attitude on the straight and narrow path.
Thank you, Connie. God is good.
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