Thankfulness

Puppy Annie Smelling a Rose

My five-month old puppy Annie has great personality. The chips might fall around me. Things may not turn out the way I plan, but Annie has shown me how to be thankful no matter what happens. She zooms around the house and the yard, but one morning she stopped to smell this rose. She caused me to stop and enjoy God’s creation too. It’s fun to watch her discover ducks and squirrels and birds on our morning walks. Everything is fresh and new to her, and I am learning to see the newness in the flowers and birds through her eyes.

Thankfulness in the Bible

I also see through David’s eyes a heart of thankfulness. He said, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4). I wonder the same thing – why does the God of creation care so much for me? Thank you, Lord, that you do!

Sometimes the worries of this world can overwhelm us, but Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear” (Matthew 6:25). Then He explains how the Father takes care of the birds, even though they do not sow or reap or store their food. And about clothes, Jesus said, “See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28).

God loves us and does not want us to worry about anything. “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). Instead of stress and worry, we can take time to be thankful and draw close to God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come close to you with thankful hearts for all you have created and all you have done for us. Help us to be more aware of your amazing love and blessings on us, and help us to love others as you love us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.