Thank You

            The other day I found a quote that said “what if you woke up today with only the things that you thanked God for yesterday?” It made me take a step back. What did I thank God for yesterday? Did I thank Him for everything? What if I forgot something important? Then in the midst of these “me” centered questions I realized it has nothing to do with me.

            God has blessed me continually, and I have been too buried in myself to say thank you. I began to think of all the things that I didn’t thank God for last night as I fumbled to say a prayer before falling asleep. There are the obvious ones that I would miss; my family and friends are a probably the most important. As I began to list all of the things I would miss I began to think of the littlest things that make my day so much brighter.

            I love pictures, I love all the decorations around my room and I would miss the little things plastered to my wall that give my dorm room/prison cell some personality. Pictures also contain memories and stories, things that you can’t get back but can capture in a photo. I would miss music. There are so many types that can go with any mood or feeling, it’s a form of pure expression and creativity, and it often articulates what words can’t convey, particularly in worship. I would miss my walk to class in the morning, the peace that falls over my campus and the stillness. I would miss the sound of laughter. I’d miss fruit and peanut butter. I absolutely love fruit and would probably starve without peanut butter!

            Luck for me God doesn’t take things from me just because I forgot to say thank you. He blesses me when I least deserve it and does so continually! Psalm 37:4 says “take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” All I need to do is find joy in God, who has graciously given me eternity, and he will bless me abundantly. It doesn’t say if you do x, y, and z only then will God give you something good. Trust God for your salvation and you will be blessed, even if you forget to say thanks.

            “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” 1 Chronicles 16:34. Say thank you because he has been good to you! Not because you’re afraid he’ll take away his blessing but because you are truly grateful for the abundance that you have, the big things, the little things, and everything in between.

            So “what if you woke up today with only the things that you thanked God for yesterday?” What would you miss? What are the little things that bring you joy throughout your day? Look around and you’ll be amazed with all that God has blessed you with!

I'd miss his beautiful artwork!

*Joy of the Day: spending time with a very dear friend and seeing the Lord work in her life and through her willingness to serve!