Thankful am I!

Thankful am I!

I first want to acknowledge that being Thankful and Grateful is a state of mind – Oh how thankful-grateful am I. 

When I was a little girl I can remember always wanting to get more candy, more dolls, more cookies, etc. Not realizing I had all the candy, dollies and cookies I needed.  LOL.  I remember watching Marvin Zindler with his white hair, wearing his white suit, twirling his baton, strutting in the downtown Thanksgiving parade. (If you don’t know about Marvin Zindler…Google him and you will find a lot out about him). Well, Mr. Zindler was a hoot.   He was well known for his segment on Channel 13 where he showcased people who were living in horrible conditions and/or being taken advantage of by others.  He had two sayings that all of Houston could quote: 1) “Marvin Zindler EYEwitness News” and 2) “Its bad being poor.” (He had a colorful vocabulary, so I replaced the actual word he used with “bad” instead. LOL

Those segments were very eye opening, but also very sad. Especially when there were little children involved.  I was a young preteen when I happened to see an episode that changed my viewpoint.  There was a family whose landlord was just not taking care of the place and expected the people to pay rent without making the place habitable – here is where Mr. Zindler stepped in.  He embarrassed that man on national television and eventually the family moved and had their own home. But what impressed me the most, was the little boy who must have been about 5 or 6 years old.   He was briefly interviewed and emphasized his gratitude and thankfulness even before Mr. Zindler assisted he and his family.  In that interview he said “I’m just happy to be with my family” Now that’s what you call grateful.  The picture that Mr. Zindler showed the public was that the place they lived was horrible and not a place where any human should live, let alone this little fellow.   Nothing else mattered to him. I could feel his gratitude and thankfulness through the television. After watching this news segment, I was so embarrassed and ashamed.  Remember my opening sentence and how I wanted more candy, cookies and oh yeah dollies? That opened my eyes so much and made me realize even under the worst circumstances, we can find a reason to be thankful.

These times in our world today can be a challenge. Between Covid-19, racial injustice and our election disagreements, it can make a Lover of the Truth disheartened.  

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials).

We can’t allow sadness, uncertainty or even fear keep us from being the light in this world.  We need to be that ‘bright light’ so that others will see GOD in us; even when what seems like earth shattering negativity is circling us.  Keep on with the beautiful acknowledgement of just how much GOD in Heaven loves and wants nothing but the best for you.  HE gives us so much without us ever having to ask.  Let’s do a fun experiment. Go outside where there is grass, take your shoes off and walk on it.  It will be the sweetest closest feeling to nature you have ever felt.  That’s GOD’s nature. HE created that nature for us to enjoy. 

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God, created the heaven and the earth.; 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding see and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its kind whose seed is in itself upon the earth; and it was so.

 GOD  loves you and wants you to know that. 

John 3:16 For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 He gave us the sun, the moon, the stars, our parents, our children, our homes our friends and family. But most of all he gave us JESUS. And for that we need to be most thankful and grateful!  I can honestly say with certainty, that I am really grateful for my family and I am so thankful of their tolerance of me with my quirky self. 🙂 I don’t tell them enough that I am glad they are in my life and I will do that more often.  That is so much on my agenda starting today.

It is my sincere hope and desire that each and every one of you reading this blog feels that your gratitude level has been heightened and improved.  But just in case you still need a little gratitude pinch, I include a final thought on taking our thankfulness and gratitude even deeper. 

Supposedly about 150 years ago there lived a woman named Sono whose devotion and pure heart were respected far and wide.  One day a fellow, having made a long trip to see her asked “What can I do to put my heart at rest?”  Sono said, every morning and every evening and whenever anything happens to you keep saying, “thank you” for everything and have no complaint whatsoever.

The man did as he was instructed for an entire year, but his heart still was not at peace.  He returned to Sono’s home and said “I’ve said the prayer over and over, and yet nothing in my life has changed. I’m still the same selfish person as before.  What should I do now?” Sono immediately said, “Thank you for everything.  I have no complaint whatsoever.” The man’s eyes were immediately opened wide; and once he heard those words he opened his spiritual eye.  He saw the importance of thankfulness.

Ultimately, the path to peace, gratitude and thankfulness, rests firmly on our own shoulders.  GOD is the ultimate helper in your time of need and HE will guide you in all you endeavor.  Nothing at all will change until we give GOD all HE deserves.  When we realize we need to rely on Him, it brings our thankfulness to life, and we have no room for complaints.

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