Be Thankful For What You Have

“You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring – what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” James 4:14

Growing up, my parents used to tell me, “Be thankful for what you have.” Those words never meant much to me as a young boy, because as kids, we think money grew on trees, but you will learn as you grow up, your parents were always right. The beatings I used to get and mom would say, “This hurts me more than it hurts you” are now words that I say to myself when my two year old son is acting up.

I was laying in bed last night, reading something on my phone, when something caught my attention. It was an obituary of a 16 month old that had passed away early this week. I clicked on the dad’s Facebook page and began to read posts about their son and how thankful they were to have such a happy baby and what God did for them in those 16 months. My heart broke. I wept. I prayed for God to protect my family.

We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we do know Who holds the future. Though we hold back trust in God because of past hurts, regrets, mistakes, etc., God can always be trusted.

Today, I am thankful for my family, my job, my co-workers, my friends, my students, and opportunities God uses to teach me how to be a better husband, father, and student pastor. I am thankful for healthy children and a beautiful wife who does more for me than I deserve. I am thankful for my boys, Kason and Preston. I am thankful for God saving me and calling me into ministry, because I don’t see myself doing anything else.

You might be in a place today where you are your lowest of lows and there seems to be no hope, but let me encourage you today, even when you hit rock bottom, Jesus will always be the rock at the bottom to pick you up.

David cried out, “I lift mine eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and of Earth (Psalm 121:1-2).” Look up, Child of God. Hold on to God’s unchanging hand through this time of transition. God is near to the broken hearted!

Today, I am thankful. Are you?