Sunday, October 20, 2013

Thankfulness Learned from a Dog's Bowl

As I was feeding the dogs this morning and this verse popped into my head:

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Every day, our dogs get the same dried dog food. Same brand. Same amount. Same bowl. And every day, they get so excited and they look their bowl and they look up and you can tell they're happy. It's almost like they're saying, "Wow! Dog food..again? This is fantastic!" And then they proceed to eat with gusto.

How I wish I could be like them. How often do we take for granted the every day blessings from our Lord, receiving the miracles of His provision with barely any recognition, much less genuine, heartfelt thanks? How like the Israelites, who were the recipients of the miracle of manna every single day, are we? "Manna? Again? I am so tired of this stinking manna. I want to go back to Egypt."

Lord, make me like my dogs today. Help me to see the blessings You've given me in a new light. To receive them with thankfulness and joy. To truly get excited because today, You've blessed me again, even as undeserving as I am. Help me to get excited about life and to stop murmuring and complaining about what You've given. Amen.