We can all be grateful to God for His many blessings. One year, just after Thanksgiving, my wife had an interesting Bible class this with the 11th and 12th graders in our academy. She asked the girls to write down all the things they are thankful for—in five minutes.
Her girls wrote as fast as they could. Then each of them shared two of the items from their lists. Jodie commented positively to the many things that they shared. Then she asked them if they had written any hardships or trials on their list. No one had written anything negative down. No trials were a part of their “thanksgiving list.” (Well, one student said that she did put her brother down—though she dearly loves him, he can sometimes qualify as a trial).
Jodie then asked her class to turn the paper over and write down any trial or hardship they were currently going through. After a few moments they had many things written down. She then asked them, “Now look at your list. Can you thank God for the things on this list?”
The class was very quiet. She said, “This is what separates us from the rest of the world. When we are thankful for our trials the world will see that we are different—that we have something different. That difference is Christ!”
What would you write down if you were asked to list what you are thankful for? What would be on your “Thanks-Living List”? Would any of your trials be on your list?
As we enjoy the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons may our gratitude grow as we remember that God gave His Son to die for us and give us Heaven!
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.—Philippians 4:6
