Some things just weren’t made to coexist. Long-tailed cats and rocking chairs? Bulls in a china shop? Not a good idea. Blessings and bitterness? The mixture doesn’t go over well with God. Combine heavenly kindness with earthly ingratitude and expect a sour concoction. Perhaps you’ve sampled it. Gratitude doesn’t come naturally. Self-pity does. Bellyaches do. Grumbles and mumbles—no one has to remind us to offer them. Yet they don’t mix well with the kindness we’ve been given.
Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God’s accomplishments. To rehearse His accomplishments is to discover His heart. Gratitude always leaves us looking at God and away from dread.
“Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
By Max Lucado
From: You’ll Get Through This
Used by permission
To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/
Photo credit: Long Thien. Public Domain https://www.flickr.com/photos/136682034@N03/
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