An attitude of gratitude

I feel like I’ve done a lot of complaining lately. 

 

It’s time to blog about thankfulness and an attitude of gratitude. 

One of the lessons from the Veggie Tales story of Madame Blueberry is that “A thankful heart is a happy heart.” 

Another lesson is that money can’t buy happiness.  Money can buy things, but things don’t bring you happiness.  Madame Blueberry is surprised to meet other people who are actually happy despite a certain lack of money or possessions. 

Yep, I love those classic Veggie Tales. 
[Money CAN buy you a great DVD]

 So I’d like to practice a little gratitude right now.

Here are my GRATEFUL 8:

1. I’m alive, and relatively healthy.
2. I’m married to a wonderful man and we’ve been blessed with 4 terrific children.  
3. We have a home to live in, and it even has air conditioning!  (True, not all of it works, but we still have the main part of the house that we can keep cool.)
4. We own 2 vehicles, and we can still afford to fill their gas tanks.  With one busy teen already driving, and another one to do so within the next year, it would be convenient to have a 3rd vehicle…but I’m going to choose to be grateful for what we do have. 
5. My husband has supported me -always- in my desire to be a SAHM.  He works hard so that we can live happily on “just” his salary.   Right now his job is not very pleasant, yet he continues to go to work each day, commuting those long hours and working even longer hours.  He does this in order to have a happy and peaceful home life.  (Why oh why do I ever complain to him about anything?!?)
6. My kids are what people call “good kids.”  They are (usually) respectful and kind.  They get along well together.  We enjoy hour-long family dinners with constant discussion.  (True, there are often elbows on the table, interruptions, and talking with mouths full of food…we’re working on those…)
7. Cable internet!!  After years of dial-up, we turned to cable about 3 years ago.   Granted, it has enabled my addiction but y’know?  It’s the shizz.  I am able to keep in touch with old friends and make new ones, too.  We can keep our long-distance relatives updated on our lives.  The kids can research projects without me driving them to the library.  And all this while keeping the phone line free for incoming calls.  It’s really amazing, when I stop to think about it. 
8. I don’t know why I left this one for last…it should be at the top of my list.  As Bob the Tomato reminds us at the end of every classic Veggie Tales video/DVD:  “God made you special and He loves you very much.” 

I’m not going to tell you what or how to believe.  But I will tell you that because of Jesus Christ, my life has meaning and importance. 

It is by God’s grace that I have forgiveness.  It is by God’s grace that I have been married to a wonderful man for the past 20 years.  It is by God’s grace that I got through a year of geographical single parenting while my husband was deployed. 

Life is full of disappointments, thrills, regrets, sorrow, happiness, love, and everything else you could name.  But deep down is the JOY I have in Jesus. 

 
What are some of the things YOU are grateful for?