(If you are just now joining us this is the second post in continuation of a series called Gratitude is Attitude which begins here http://wp.me/p1Tx4N-fX.)
The Search
Recently I was looking for something but I couldn’t recall where I had placed it. So I went on that search where you find the thing you are looking for after finding all the things you were not looking for.
It never ceases to amaze me that when I am looking for something I actually realize what I have. It’s like the man who asked the other man who was loading boxes into a moving van. “Are you moving?” The first man asked. “No we just like to pack everything up every now and then to see how much stuff we have.” Replied the man carrying the boxes.
The things we have are often unrecognized until we have use of them. Well, being that the first part of our gratitude is attitude acrostic is acknowledging what we have, we will need to do a little looking around. We will have to take intentional inventory of our blessings.
The Focus
It is so easy to focus on what we don’t have. Especially when we need that item that we have been searching for. Like gloves we put away last year when the season changed. It’s cold right now and I need them. Where I put them can become the overwhelming focus until I find them. After all I am exposed to the elements until I do, and every time I go into the cold I am reminded of my need.
If we are going to change our focus to be grateful then we must claim what we do have. I may not be able to find my gloves, but by golly this coat has pockets I can stuff my hands into. When I change my focus and acknowledge the coat pockets my resulting thought is that I may not have found what I am looking for, but I have warm hands anyway and I am grateful.
The Acknowledgement
What is it that we can acknowledge that we have throughout the remainder of the week and the weekend. Monday we will be thanking God for those things discovered. Sometimes we have to take an intentional inventory of our blessings Beloved. Come willing to share what you have in your inventory. 😉
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17 NIV
Another Samaritan Woman 