What a busy, fun, stressful, etc. week we are in currently. Hopefully all of us will have some time off, good food, and time with loved ones as we celebrate this season of Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for and not just this time of year but all year. Gratitude can be tough. So often the reason for that is me. I hate to say that because it is easier to blame others or my circumstances for my lack of gratitude, but the reality is, it usually boils down to me. I have expectations that are not met, things are not going the way I want them to, or I am just spoiled. That can be a tough pill to swallow. When I read about Paul and Silas singing in prison, I know that I have room for improvement.
An area I need to improve on in my attitude of gratitude is vocalizing it or repaying it. How quick am I to criticize versus praise? Proverbs 27:5 says, “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.” That sounds crazy at first. Until you realize that concealed love does nothing for someone. We need to be praising others and be thankful to others even for what we might consider small, everyday, common things. We are so worried about others thanking us that sometimes we neglect thanking others. Try expressing thanks to others and see what happens.
I want to practice what I preach by finishing this article by again saying thank you for two years working together. I am thankful for the elders, deacons, and staff who have helped me so much. I am thankful for every member of the body here at Huntingdon who works to build this body up (Ephesians 4:16). I am thankful for those who show up to worship and participate, for those in and teaching Bible classes, for those who plan and carry out activities. I am thankful for those who cook, call, visit and pray. I am thankful for those who encourage the discouraged and evangelize the lost and so much more that you do. I am thankful for each one of you. If there has been any success in my time here, you are the reason. God bless you.
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