I Don’t Want to Be Thankful (and why I choose to be anyways)

Recently, my awesome, iron-sharpens-iron Mama has been challenging me to think of things I am thankful for at the end of the day.

I have to be honest though; on some of those days, I really did not feel like being thankful. I would much rather complain about all the things I’m not thankful for. That comes to us so much easier, doesn’t it?

Being thankful doesn’t always seem like an attractive pastime to me. There are plenty of things I could complain about right now.

But I also know there there are blessings that abound in my life despite the struggles.

There is always something to be grateful for, even if I have to look a little harder than normal to find it. That’s 100% okay, by the way. Being thankful is not always supposed to be easy, so I don’t have to be discouraged when I find it difficult. The times when I don’t want to be thankful are the times when it is absolutely crucial that I try to cultivate gratitude.

Why? Put simply, because it’s God’s will. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

So I just wanted to share a few things in my life right now that I am thankful for.

1. I’m thankful for the sun

The weather in Iowa has been typical winter blah. Sub-zero windchills and overcast skies are the January norm. After days on end of gloomy, cloudy mess, the sun came out yesterday. It was truly such a blessing. The sun is a beautiful, tangible reminder of the faithfulness of God. It always comes up and sustains us, even when we cannot see it. The times when the sky is dark make it even more amazing when the sun graces the sky. The same is true of our Heavenly Father. He is always working for our good, even when we cannot see His hand. Our time spent in the dark makes the gracious glimpses of His plan so much more precious.

2. I’m thankful for fuzzy blankets

Don’t worry, I don’t have any cheesy biblical illustration for this one. I just really like blankets. A girl can never have too many fuzzy blankets, right? The cold weather has given me a rekindled gratitude for fuzzy blankets in large quantities. I am blessed with comfort, and I am thankful for it.

3. I’m thankful for music

I have been so encouraged by music recently. Whether using it as a tool to worship or as a distraction from pain, I am very grateful for the influence music has on my life. What a blessing, no? Our creative Father gave us such a wonderful gift in music. I am also grateful for the teachers in my life who have taught me to love music more and more.

So there you have it, folks. These are just a few of the things that I am grateful for right now.

What can you be thankful for?

-Alathia