Gratitude or Attitude and Obedience

The way we choose to see things makes all the difference to us and also to those around us. I just opened my blog to start writing and discovered this title and the first line were started back in April and never finished! I was about to start a new title but this one still fits what I feel He wants me to share.

We are living in a world unlike anything I ever thought I’d see in my lifetime. As I’ve been riding the past few months I’ve not written a whole lot because mostly my rides have been shorter and with less deep thinking. I’ve found myself just totally absorbed in the ride. Watching the trees as the leaves gradually turn colors then fall to the ground, gardens as they change from fully producing colorful summer crops to the now producing mostly green Fall/Winter crops, and the cotton. I think watching cotton change from just simple little brown bulbs to the amazing white balls that make the fields look like they are blankets of snow is amazing. Then once they harvest, bale, and wrap it, the fields look they are now covered with gigantic marshmallows!

I am blessed and thankful to live where I get the opportunity to witness all of nature’s beauty with 4 very separate seasons. That being said, I’ve also noticed something else now that the leaves are falling off the trees. I’ve seen a few older sheds and homes that over the past several months have really started to deteriorate and collapse. It breaks my heart to see this happening. I’ve always wondered about the stories they’d tell if they could talk. I think it’s such a shame that some of these once beautiful buildings are now nothing but piles of wood and rubble. Things left unattended for too long just can’t survive.

Our own lives are very similar to those old buildings. If we don’t eat and drink properly and get adequate sleep and exercise, our bodies start to deteriorate. If we don’t focus our thoughts on positive things, that too affects not only our mental health but ultimately our physical health as well. More importantly if we don’t focus on the one who made us and allow Him into our hearts and minds, everything else is irrelevant. When He becomes the main focus, everything else falls into place. That doesn’t mean we won’t still struggle or that everything will be easy. It simply means that if we trust and follow Him and obey His word, things will be ok in the end. It may not be the way we think it should be, but His ways are always the best way.

Think about our relationships with other people. Are we grateful for example if someone washed the dishes even though maybe they didn’t put them away? Are we thankful that someone prepared food, even though maybe it’s different than how we would have done it? Do we appreciate the effort someone puts into what they do, or are we too caught up in the “my way” line of thinking?

What does God think when He tries to lead us to do something but we think we know a better way or maybe that it doesn’t need to be done at all? We are all just a bunch of sinners in need of a Savior.

As Christmas is approaching I often hear the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” For me personally there is honestly nothing materialistic that I need. My biggest “want ” for Christmas is for all of my family and friends to know Jesus before it’s too late. Not to just know who He is, but to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior and be obedient to Him; that would be the best gift of all.

I probably will not ramble again before Christmas so I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and my hope is that you will enjoy the holiday knowing the true meaning behind it.

Luke 2:11 – For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.