Thanking Our Problems Away
M3 Monday Morning Message – No. 557, June 24, 2019
I had the opportunity to spend time with a friend over the weekend. During our conversation, they shared about the struggles they are going through at work and in their family. The issues they are facing seemed to be almost overwhelming. As I listened, I wondered if I could offer anything that would be encouraging or empathetically comforting. One thing was very clear; the problems I am currently facing pale in comparison to what my friend is going through. That thought minimizes the weight of my burdens. Upon reflecting on the conversation later, I began to think through all the things I have to be thankful for, which further diminished any concern or worry I feel regarding my own trials.
This morning, I spent some time creating a mental list of the things I can be thankful for. That list includes my health, the fact I could get up this morning, the nice home I am blessed to live in, my loving wife, healthy adult children who exercise good judgement and wisdom in their decisions, a good job with a dependable income, faithful friends, and much, much more! It seems the more I express thanks for the good things, the longer that list grows, and the more my problems are minimized.
Maybe we cannot thank our problems away, but spending time considering what we have that we can be thankful for helps us keep things in the proper perspective. We may even find our problems are not as great as we have feel they are, giving us the right attitude to face them. Maybe your formula for a great week could be: thankfulness + more thankfulness = less worry.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie
I hope you have a great week!
Brad
Note – the use of quotes does not imply that I agree or disagree with the views, philosophies, or beliefs of those quoted.