Are We Really Thankful?
Are We Really Thankful?
by Markey Motsinger
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! It’s a holiday that seems to radiate family, friends, and eating.(Bring on the desserts!) It’s also a day that reminds me to be thankful for all I have. There is a lot to be grateful for, but instead of seeing all I have, I often see all the things I don’t have. I don’t have a cutelydecorated house. I don’t have fashionably dressed kids. I don’t have a MacBook with a functioning keyboard.
Why is it harder to be grateful for the things I have instead of discontent with the things I don’t? This is especially easy to on Black Friday. I’m mean come on. You can’t think about Thanksgiving without thinking about Black Friday. It’s practically a holiday itself! Seeing all the adds makes me want things I never knew I “needed”. Who doesn’t need a vacuum cleaner that cleans itself?
Can I really be thankful when the world shouts that I don’t have what I “need”? Needing more is a lie that’s easy to buy into but completely counter-intuitive to what God says. He says all I need is IN HIM. I can be utterly broke and without the latest technology and still have all that I need if I have Him. My soul matters, and Jesus is what I need. Living with any other core belief leaves me wondering around in the valley of discontent.
Your Turn…
What is your attitude towards thankfulness? Are you thankful because you know that it could be worse, or are you thankful for what you have without secretly desiring the latest and newest?
We can easily be thankful in our minds, but not in our hearts. Mentally, we force ourselves to be thankful because there are people worse off than us. Telling ourselves we have all we need because that’s what the bible says to believe. But in our hearts, we aren’t thankful.
To really be thankful, it has to move from a mindset to a heart attitude. The attitude that less is more and what we have is enough has to become a part of who we are instead of a slogan we paint on our wall.
Thankfulness that leads to contentment never comes easy. The world makes a living off of getting us to believe that we don’t have what we need. We have to work hard and continually seek God if we want to combat the greed and selfishness that is easily picked up throughout our daily lives. But it can be done and we can grab a hold of freedom. We don’t need an easier life, we need a life with Jesus. As we grow, we will become thankful for the things that truly matter. Family. God. Friends.
Hi there! I’m Markey! I’m inviting you to pull up a chair and join me in this thing called life. With me, you won’t find much fluff, but you will find an ordinary, girl who craves authenticity and Jesus. Visit me here to read my blog or grab some free Bible studies and reading plans.
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