Thursday March 13th

I had a very annoying day yesterday.

It started when I got to my first Jo Jingles venue to discover that the usual room was occupied by someone else and so I had to set up in another place which was time consuming and inconvenient.  Then my ipod refused to work.  Luckily I had CDs with me as back up so used those but that meant I had to significantly change what I was doing and make it up on the spot.  The children didnt notice but I was stressed.    I was then running late and had to dash across town to the next place but when I left the first place I couldnt find my car keys!!!!   Found them after a bit of running about and got to the next place with seconds to spare to find the only parking space was a very awkward one indeed.   Managed to wriggle the car in leaving it half on the kerb! Arrived in the very nick of time sweating.  Worked out a way to fix my ipod but it involved a bit of jiggery pokery and a bit more stress.    Oh my goodness what a morning!!!  And all of that on only one cup of coffee  :-)

The Bible tells us to give thanks.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5.18

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Eph 5.20

It seems evident from these passages that we are to be thankful for everything.  All of it.  For the changes in plans and the broken equipment and the lost keys and the lack of parking spaces and the lateness and the stress.

For the cancer and the fibromyalgia and the unemployment and the divorce

Really???    Thankful??

I can probably stretch to being thankful for my day yesterday.  Ive passed enough car accidents to know that sometimes the stupid annoying delay can make the difference between being being in the smash or not.  Im prepared to concede that Im not the center of the universe and sometimes stuff happens to me for the ultimate benefit of someone else.  I also know there are lessons I need to learn.  Like patience , like being well prepared, like keeping my keys in my pocket and not setting them down in random places...

So perhaps I can say ' Lord, it was an annoying day, but thanks anyway.'

But what about the serious illness?  Can I really be thankful for that?  Or the relationship breakdown?  Or the tragic loss?  Is it really possible to be thankful for ALL things, in EVERY circumstance?

Well, I suppose at the end of the day it all comes down to the question of whether we trust God and His love for us.   Do we turn to God in our difficulties and sufferings or do we turn away from Him.?  Do we hold on in the dark and hang on to the promise that one day all suffering will end and there will be no more tears ? Do we trust that we are so valuable that Jesus paid the ultimate price by dying for us to buy us back from Satan and give us as a gift to His Father - and that if He has done this for us then will He not also freely give us all things?  It's not easy.  Im no expert.  And to be honest I've only had to face a couple of crisis times in my life when everything was very dark and difficult and I cant say thankfulness was upmost in my mind.  It is so counter-intuitive its almost mad.   But I have seen it.  I have seen people going through horrible things who retain the ability to praise God.  Who are able to see the spiritual benefits and growth that comes through trials and storms. People who are able, in the midst of incredible sadness and pain, to shine with gratitude for the little they do have and spur others on to press in.  Im not there yet by a long chalk.  But its something to aim for.

Lord,  I want to be a more thankful person because Your word says that this is what You want for me. Forgive me for how easily I moan and whinge.  Forgive me for being negative and focusing on the difficulties instead of looking up and filling my vision with You.   During this time of Lent help my gratitude to grow. Let me be one who is quick to thank people and slow to moan about them.  And regardless of what my circumstances might try to tell me, let me never forget that You loved me enough to die for me. And if You loved me that much then You only have my good in mind.  Everything is for a reason.  You are in control. Thank you.

Josh Groban singing Thankful  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoygmylt2iM