Wow! Aren’t we all bombarded with negative economic news! While it is easy to get worried, we can resist that temptation by focusing on being thankful. Rhonda Bryne said in The Secret, “The more thankful we are, the more we will have to be thankful for.” So as I celebrate my favorite holiday of Thanksgiving, here are my top ten reasons to be thankful. Consider my list and see if it applies to you.
1. Your Health. Here is an assignment right away if you want to skip over this blessing. Go (and better yet take friends or family) to a busy hospital emergency room or visit a convalescent home. I promise you will be grateful for the health you have. Even if you are suffering from severe flu at the moment, you can appreciate the fact that you will recover.
2. Your Family. You may be quick to disagree especially if you dread having to spend the holiday listening for the twentieth rendition of Uncle Bob talking about his early childhood. Or maybe you have had a family dispute. You still have a rich history of parents who endured sleepless nights and sacrificed to bring you to adulthood. Be grateful for them.
3. Your Friends. Don't feel like you have any? Get out your cell phone and scroll down your list of contacts. Stop at each one and reflect upon a warm memory of time spent with that person. I promise you will appreciate that relationship more and the value of your friends.
4. Your Sense of Humor. I understand that you may not be feeling any humor if your investments have lost 35% of their value. What if you lacked the ability to laugh at your circumstances? Think how much more difficult life would be. You have heard it said, "One day I will look back and laugh about this current experience." Why wait? Laugh about it right now. Remind yourself that no matter how difficult the present, "This too shall pass."
5. Your Ability to Read. If are able to read this simple blog, then you have the capability that millions around the world lack. If you can read, then you can get exposed to new ideas, travel by book to faraway places, and learn from gifted thinkers.
6. Your Positive Attitude. Here you may say, "What positive attitude?" Didn't you overcome the last challenge you faced? Don't you think you can conquer the next one as well?
7. Your Material Blessings. Is your stomach growling for lack of food? Try to be thankful for the basic necessities you enjoy.
8. Technology. Isn't almost any article about anything available on-line? You can watch speeches, sermons, and news videos any time you are in the mood. Reflect on what is available to you at this moment and say, "Wow!"
9. The Great Outdoors. Turn your head right now and look outside. Isn't God a genius to create all this beauty for us to enjoy?
10. Your Faith. This is the most important of all. Faith helps you to look past the current negative headlines and to put temporarily important "breaking news" into perspective.
So what can I do to appreciate these ten things?
1. Your Health - buy an exercise or yoga DVD and say no to unhealthful food items
2. Your Family - call a family member and tell them how much they mean to you
3. Your Friends - ditto to number 2
4. Your Sense of Humor - watch the comedy channel
5. Your Ability to Read - go to the library and check out two books
6. Your Positive Attitude - go to the library and check out two books on positive attitude
7. Your Material Blessings - go through your closet, donate unused clothing, and give to the community food pantry
8. Technology - learn one new computer skill next week (if looking for new stuff, check out http://www.stumbleon.com/)
9. The Great Outdoors - get out your calendar and plan an outdoor trip for the future and right now go take a walk
10. Your Faith - set aside time and watch these three on-line sermons by Andy Stanley on "Why Worry?"
http://northpoint.org/messages - click on Why Worry
So this Thanksgiving turn off the news for a day. Instead, take a moment to reflect on your blessings.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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