What Was I Thinking?

Being a preacher’s kid, I heard a lot of stories. Many of them made an indelible impression on my life. Sometimes it wouldn’t be a full story but instead would be a quip or quote that my dad would use. One of those he always used in his sermon around Thanksgiving was the quote credited to Helen Keller— “I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” I’m not sure if she actually said that or not, but it sure sounded like a mantra that would fit a woman of such resolve.

Occasionally I find myself complaining. Not much, but after all, it doesn’t take much complaining to do massive damage to an otherwise good outlook. I can only be in this negative state of mind for a few seconds before, in my mind, I hear my dad say, “I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” Immediately I feel terrible and say to myself, “What was I thinking?” And therein lies the problem. I wasn’t thinking!

If we are “thinkful,” we will be “thankful.” In other words, a little bit of thinking brings about a whole lot of thanking.

Gratitude is the currency of a world of peace and joy! With it, I can buy my way into my future. I can truly believe that “all things work together for the good to them that love the Lord….” (Romans 8:28) and that in everything I should “give thanks” because this is the “will of God” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Complaining always leaves me in my past! I mean, isn’t my past the only place a complaint can be? It cannot be about my future because it hasn’t happened yet. On the other hand, thankfulness allows all of us to transcend the normalcy of the drudge of life into the euphoria of infinite provision.

In a place of gratitude, I come back to the reality that if I’m faithful over a few things, He will make me “ruler over many.” Could it be that faithfulness is often measured by something as simple as gratitude?
My gratitude for where I’ve been sets me up for the provisions of where I’m going! Complain? What was I thinking?