Friday, January 24, 2020

Some Post-Thanksgiving Ponderings

By Johnny Hester

    By the time you read these words the holiday designated as “Thanksgiving” for 2019 will have come and gone. However, for many of us there are lingering issues to be addressed, among them:

  • How do I manage to lose the pounds gained by my holiday overindulgence?
  • Devising an excuse for falling asleep shortly after the big feast rather than energetically leading efforts to gather up, scrape, wash and put away “the good dishes.” (Guys, the “tryptophan theory” was long ago debunked and the women are well aware of this fact.)
    Gloating over my favorite football team’s victory (or sulking and pouting over their loss).
    For me, the issue which looms largest and seems most significant is that of developing an attitude of gratitude that will line up better with the bountiful blessings made available to me by the grace of a loving God. William Arthur Ward succinctly declared: “Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” Shouldn’t we all want a life characterized by these things?
    In Philippians 4:6-7 the inspired Word teaches us how to achieve this life-transforming life change which results in even more abundant blessings. Let us heed and follow these instructions: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

- Johnny Hester preaches for the Matthews Church of Christ in Matthews, MO. He may be contacted at johnnyhester@yahoo.com


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