An Attitude of Thankfulness

Be joyful always; pray continually give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Five or six years ago I went on a short term mission trip to Mexico and was part of a house building team.  There were twenty participants, we each had to donate money to purchase the building materials for the house and we were put up in a church sanctuary.  It was a sleeping bag on a concrete floor and the food was very basic, cereal for breakfast, peanut butter and jam sandwiches for lunch and supper I can't even remember.  The point wasn't the cuisine or accommodation, but that we all were felt called by God from across North America to meet in Houston, Texas and cross the border to Juarez, Mexico and build a house for a lady who was having her eighth child.

When we got to the building site I couldn't believe what I saw.  It was a one room home that was smaller than my garden shed back home and not nearly in as good of shape.  Just off the kitchen was an attached bathroom.  To describe the living conditions in a word, they were deplorable.  The lady could only speak Spanish so communication was nonexistent.  The children from the neighborhood each day were waiting for the work crew to show up and they would surround us and we would have to listen to a chorus of "candy?" and "money?" with their hands out and their eyes wide open, expectant.  It broke my heart because I wanted to take them all home with me in hope of giving them a better life.  It made me so thankful for all that I had.

Today I was reminded of that time again when one of the women in my church had to move her home in one of the townships.  So a group of us men and women showed up and literally took apart her house and attempted to put back together what I would call a few pieces of scrap wood and metal to call a 'home'.  Once again I had that overwhelming feeling of wanting to take as many of those people living there (especially the children) and settle them in Canada to give them a better hope of a future.  Once again I was  overwhelmed also with thankfulness for everything that God has given to me.

I wondered all day why don't I regularly give thanks for my health, experiences, education, home, family and so on.  I find that I take many things for granted and that is a disservice to me and disobedience to God. I also found myself asking God to forgive me for my attitude of thanklessness and selfishness.

When was the last time you were brought to a place of thankfulness?  Are you using your talents and abilities to glorify God and bless your family?