It is the weekend. The Bulldogs won, barely. My boy turns 20
next week. My girl has the perfect homecoming dress. It’s still warm outside, and
comfortably cool inside. Church is Sunday.
My Sunday School lesson is challenging. Our life group meets this weekend, and
the menu is breakfast for supper.
The front door now boasts the colors of autumn, and the
mantel is decked out in hues of gold and orange. The Harry Potter books are
back on display, I’m reading “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child,” and the story
really does continue.
It doesn’t take much effort to find things to be thankful
for, you’d think we’d do a better job at being grateful.
I think we fail at living life with gratitude because we
just don’t take the time. We go so fast. We stay so stimulated. We attend to our
devices so much. We walk with our heads down and drive with our windows up. We
speed down the two-lane roads and wish for the next season before this one is complete.
We take vacations with itineraries, and our days off are filled with chores and
to-do lists.
How many opportunities to be thankful do we race by just
because we weren’t paying attention?
And, if we have raced by those chances, what else have we
missed? Opportunities to minister? Blessings intended for us? People who could
have been friends? Advice we needed? Answers to prayer?
Jesus’ advice to us is to “consider the lilies,” with this
important connection:
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
If I invest in worry, my heart will be troubled.
If I invest in greed, my heart will be ruled by it.
If I live a self-absorbed life, my heart will be closed to
others.
BUT…
If I put stock in relationships, my heart will be open to
others.
If I invest my resources in others, my heart will be
generous.
If I invest in looking for opportunities to be thankful, my
heart will be grateful.
Before the weekend is up, I hope you’ll join me in literally
considering the lilies. They don’t worry about tomorrow. They live out their purpose,
adding beauty, fragrance and inspiration to our days. If we follow their
example, gratefulness will be the byproduct.
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