By Lois Hewitt

Lent: Living Without Thanklessness

I saw a post that said today was Thankful Thursday.  I really liked the sentiment so I decided every Thursday will be Thankful.  All days should be but I want to make one day that!

I got to thinking how do we show gratitude. I thought of a couple ways.  I want to thank those around me who enrich my life. Those people are so easy to take for granted. They always show up, they always have your back and we can overlook their contributions very easily. 

As I go about my daily common duties, I want to randomly give thanks for things not on my normal gratitude list.

Thank you for dishes to wash.  Thank you for warm socks.  Thank you for toothpaste. Thank you for lemons. Thank you for not letting me win the lottery (i’d turn into a real jerk).  And the like.

I try to pray my gratitude list every night before I fall asleep. I usually fall asleep during that prayer so I will try to be better. I will also add a gratitude line in my planner.

I want to thank those who help my life. The person who pulls my groceries because I get anxiety grocery shopping. I order on line and a wonderful person does my shopping. I really need to thank them.

I need to thank those who help me spiritually.  I have several people who help me in my Christian walk.  This walk is not an easy one and anyone who tries it alone will value those who help.

I just want to be thankful.  Many years of my life had been spent moaning and groaning about what I didn’t have.  What was missing in my life.  My thanklessness made me toxic. It is a deadly disease that kills everything in its path.

Then I was re-introduced to Jesus and He took that toxic shell and cleaned it up, polished it and made it like new. He gave me a second (third, fourth, and on) chance in this life and gave me the ultimate gift of eternal life with Him.

That may sound crazy and far-fetched but the reality is I was on a path to destruction and He grabbed me off that road before I got to the dead end.

He has changed me and I should never be thankless again.  I know, however, the days lie in wait, the ones where you think you have been abandoned. The days nothing goes right and life hurts so bad.

Those days, I want to be the most thankful. They remind me that I cannot do this life alone and that I have Jesus to run to.

As I look at my life, past and present and not knowing about tomorrow, I cannot help but be brimming over with gratitude. I have so many more blessings today. Yesterday was full of useless stuff. Today is overflowing with all I need and all I could want.  Gifts from above.

This Lent, I am banishing thanklessness.  Gratitude is mine for all the gifts that fill my life here and in eternity.

One last heartfelt thank you.. To everyone who reads the words I write. The idea that anyone would take the time to read these posts, fills me with the utmost gratitude.  A writer longs to be read, I am so blessed by all of you!  Thank you so very much!