How to Become a Woman of Thanksgiving
How to Become a Woman of Thanksgiving by Patrice
Fagnant-MacArthur
It can be a challenge to be thankful. After all, it often seems
so much easier to complain. The bills are piling up, the boss
wanted the project done yesterday and it is barely begun, the
children want to be brought someplace and don?t want to eat what
is on the table for dinner, and the laundry isn?t going to do
itself! Any number of life?s little annoyances can push us into
complaining mode. Lamentation is a valid prayer. We are right to
bring our cares and concerns to God, to offer up our stress. But
thanksgiving is an important part of prayer also. We are often
eager to petition God for our needs, but less likely to say
?Thank you? when a prayer has been answered.
So, how then, do we become a woman of thanksgiving? Begin by
looking around. Thank God for another day of life, the nature
that surrounds us. Do you have a roof over your head, food on
the table? Thank God for those. Are your children screaming
through the house? Stop and thank God that they are healthy
enough to run and play, and yes, even fight with each other! Any
time when you feel a complaint bubbling to the surface, take a
moment to breathe and survey the situation. Is there any silver
lining hiding below the surface that could possibly be a reason
for thanks? If so, thank God for that. When petitioning God for
a need, always add a prayer of thanksgiving for the answer,
whether it is the answer desired or not. Like any habit, with
practice, becoming a woman of thanksgiving should become easier.