It has taken for everything to be stripped away, to realise how much I simply take for granted. Since these ‘lockdown measures’ have been in place, I have been reflecting on the things I would normally be able to do, that for now I can’t. All these things I just expect to have or do, and I never really considered how grateful and thankful I should be. How often do you stop and thank God for the things you have? Or are you like me and just take things for granted?
For example, I am blessed with having my grandparents live next door to me. Yet, I take this for granted. I have the opportunity to pop round to see them everyday, but I will usually only see them once or twice a week, just because I am ‘too busy’. Now, they are having to self-isolate and I can’t go round to see them. Although we can talk over the phone or mime through windows at each other, it’s not the same as being in the same room. It’s taken to not being able to see them, to realise how grateful I should be, that I can spend time with my grandparents daily.
It also felt so strange to be Facetiming my best friend earlier, rather than catching up with her over coffee. I have been blessed with such a great friend, and although we only live a few streets away, we may only meet up once or twice a month. I know life can get busy, but this time stuck at home, has made me appreciate the time we share together more. I know I need to make a bigger effort to make time for others – both family and friends. We should never take for granted the people we love the most.
Not only have I not been grateful for these things, there’s my job too. I absolutely love my job as a teacher, working with the children and making a difference. Too often though, I come home complaining about work and the little things that annoyed me that day. Whereas now, there has been such big changes towards schools because of the current situation, that I would give anything to have my class back, regardless of how challenging they can be!
Being able to go out and explore, whether locally or further afield is another area. I take for granted how fortunate I am to be able to travel abroad, that there are so many places I can visit right on my doorstep and that I have the ability to go out with my camera on long walks, taking in the glorious countryside around me. All of this has now been restricted, and again I know how thankful I should have been.
There are many, many more things we take for granted everyday. The fact we have food, a roof over our heads, a bed to sleep in, family, friends, holidays, entertainment, books, sunshine, work, love etc. Take a minute to think about things you take for granted? It’s the little things in life that matter the most. We need to appreciate what we have and be sincerely grateful.
The Bible teaches us that we need to be grateful and show our gratitude to God. Why? Because all good things come from God. We need to count our blessings and develop a thankful heart. It’s easy in the midst of our busyness to forget to do this, but we should learn to praise and give thanks to God for all He has done and blessed us with. We have so much to be thankful for, even all of the small things, which often we may forget to thank Him for, but they really are the biggest, most important things in this life.
“Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praises to Him.”
Psalm 95:2
“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:20
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6-7
Something I am beginning to create is a Jar of Thankfulness. Each day I am going to write on a post-it note something I am grateful for. Even on our toughest days, there is still going to be something we can show our gratitude for. The Bible says we still need to be thankful even in the hard times.
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
At the end of the year, I will then be able to look back through the jar and see for myself how greatly I have been blessed. It’s difficult to sometimes see it in the moment, but in this way it’ll be evidence of all the blessings I’ve received. If being genuinely thankful is something you feel you struggle with, or you just forget to do it, then why not create a Jar of Thankfulness too?
Today, I am thankful that even in this time of uncertainty, God’s love remains steadfast. That despite my lack of gratitude, and that I take His blessings for granted, God stills love me and always will.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:29
God Bless! 🙂
STEADFAST 