Thankfulness
is a choice. We either choose to be thankful for the great many things we take
for granted every day we are upon this earth, or we constantly feel entitled to
more, thereby stirring disquiet in our hearts and never having peace.
Although
we have much to be thankful for, thankfulness seems to be in short supply, and
though we expect thanklessness from those of the world, it is a sad thing to
see it among the children of God as well.
It
is because many have fallen into the snare of the enemy, and have come to
believe that coming to Jesus means never needing anything ever again, that so
many believers are beside themselves when trials come their way, or unexpected
things shatter the fantasy that Christians don’t suffer.
What
being a believer means is that God the Father will be with us through our
trials not that He will cause us to circumvent them. When we understand this
simple truth, our lives will be forever changed, and the sporadic thankfulness we
express will become a daily, ongoing practice.
Today
I am thankful for many things. I am thankful for a loving wife, I am thankful
for the healthy baby growing in her womb, (yep, I’m going to be a dad, scariest
most wonderful news I’ve received in my entire life), I am thankful for my brothers
and sisters in Christ, I am thankful for God’s faithfulness, I am thankful for
God’s mercy, I am thankful for God’s love, I am thankful for God’s grace, and
yes, I’m even thankful for the trials which serve to mold me and fashion me
into that which God desires me to become.
Choose
to be thankful. Choose to be thankful not only this day, but every day you are
given to walk upon this earth, to see a sunrise, to hear a birdsong, to hug the
person next to you, to read a bedtime story to your child, to hold the hand of
your parent, to show kindness to a stranger, to extend mercy, to show grace,
and to be like Jesus.
We
have much to be thankful for.
Oh
yeah, did I mention I’m going to be a dad?
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the happy news! You'll make an awesome dad.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving and Congratulations! Praying for you and your whole family, always!
ReplyDeleteLove in Christ Jesus,
Susan
Ohachee, AL
Congratulations to the both of you!! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the both of you. God is so gracious.
ReplyDeleteNila
Last Sunday the pastor taught about the history of Thanksgiving, from the 1600s on to the multiple official proclamations done here in the US. All of these traditions are based on the concept of thankfulness, a great feast, and prayer. As I'm sitting here reading the news about how "Black Friday" is giving in to "Grey Thursday" and how more and more stores are choosing to stay open on Thanksgiving, about all the sales, the frantic pitch and intensity of advertising, about all the materialism and greed... How far and how deep into the mire such a fine and mighty nation has fallen. I feel such an overwhelming sadness. I can't help thinking it can't be much longer now. How much more could God possibly tolerate? And yet I know it can still get so much worse.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful announcement! Praying for a blessed pregnancy and birth. You’ll be a great dad!
ReplyDeleteFor Christ,
Meema
A baby! Wonderful news! May God bless all three of you!
ReplyDeleteCongratualations.
ReplyDeleteAgain, Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteIt will be great!
So very happy for you, Michael. Congratulations! I'll be praying for you and your family in the months ahead.
ReplyDeleteWe can never hear it too often --the reminder to be thankful in all circumstances. I am certainly thankful for this blog and thankful you are feeling better. And a heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to the future parents of baby Boldea!
ReplyDeletePraying the Lord's highest and best for you all,
Melanie
Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you and your wife Michael. Being a dad is one of the best parts of my life, as it will be yours. It will add to and round you both out. Blessings.
ReplyDelete