We’ve all had some difficult days along the way, haven’t we? I just experienced one of my more difficult days and was busily traveling down what I like to call “Pity Party Lane.” The trip was a short one, however! My eyes fell upon a notepad on the kitchen counter. It had the drawing of a young woman holding a basket filled with flowers. Written above her were the words:

Thankful am I…

I had to smile. The Lord had just reached down and placed me under the shadow of His wings and comforted me! I immediately began to thank Him for my To Do List! Having this To Do List meant that my beloved was still with me and that I did not lose him to cancer! My To Do List means that we are able to buy groceries! My To Do List means that I have a home to take care of and we are not out on the streets! I openly smiled and my heart began to rejoice!

It is amazing how our vision is skewed when we place our eyes on our own circumstances. But once we begin to be thankful for what we have and count our blessings, we immediately start seeing our lives as the Lord would have us to.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. ~Psalm 100:4

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ~I Thessalonians 5:18

I believe that being thankful is a frame of mind. We cannot be thankful in all things if our eyes are fixed on our problems and trials. Instead, we can be thankful if we count the blessings God has given to us. Sometimes we are hit over the head, as I was. Other times, we have to really search for a blessing – but you can be sure there are some to be found. If you can’t find anything to be thankful for, look to the heavens and behold the stars. God gives us blessings in each sunrise and sunset. He gives a symphony of song to the birds for us to hear. He places a wonderful fragrance in the air with each rose that lines the path that we walk. He paints a lovely picture with each waterfall, each mountain, and each blossoming cherry tree.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. ~Psalm 28:7

Therefore, thankful am I…