Attitude of Gratitude

Good morning everyone! Happy Thanksgiving week! For me, it is supposed to be Happy Vacation week as well. I have officially decided that will start tomorrow. Mainly because I wanted to be caught up at work before Thanksgiving and I am probably around 5-6 hours from it. So, that is where my afternoon plans lie.


This morning, I will help a friend celebrate the life of her dad. It has hung in the back of my mind that 37 years ago, this coming week, I lost my own dad. 37 years ago Monday. It seems like forever. There used to be times you would think, "It seems like yesterday, but it seems like forever", too much has happened, no way for it to feel like yesterday again.


I know there were times in the years just after my dad died that I so wanted to make that be the reason for any failures or shortcomings. I have one customer who calls me on a yearly basis; he is 5 years older than me and blames his entire situation on the fact that his dad died when he was 9. It is hard to guide someone to change their minds after that many years of believing it. But  I try, every year.


My mom was my saving grace as she would not allow me to blame Dad, or blame God. It would make her furious when I would do this (and I tried to do it a lot). I wrote a speech my senior year of high school. I was apparently feeling sorry for our situation when I wrote it. When she read it, she informed me how wrong I was. She was right. There is always, always, always something for which you can be thankful.


And I know I have shared this before. Mom made me read Job; over, and over, and over again.


So, here was a man that had everything, I mean everything, taken away from him, in basically the matter of hours. and what did he do? He praised God.


So, here's the scoop:


And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
Job 1:13-19


and what did Job do?


"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:20-22).


I was reading another commentary on these same verses and it pointed out that your testimony will always be louder in times of adversity than times of ease. Mountains and valleys. It is easy to thank God when you are on the mountain top, not so much when He is taking you through a valley. The thing we must realize is if He is taking you through a valley, there is something He wants you to learn, or see, so your life will be fuller, and you will be more equipped to help others.


If you are a Christian, you know the main thing you are charged to do once you have accepted Christ is to tell others about Him. Tell them the security that no matter how bad this world gets, there is a mansion waiting for you in Heaven (or according to Robert a farmhouse on the Outskirts of Heaven), and show them, by your actions, what it is like to trust in Him no matter what.


I mentioned the song Outskirts of Heaven, when I first heard the lyrics, I though, "yep, my kid missed out on his grandpa showing him all of those things". Then I realize, Robert had his Uncle Junior, Jack Cook, Ted Marrs, Jeff Carr, and Brad Shull, as well as Bill Griffith, who we are laying to rest today, and many others that filled those gaps, and for that I am very thankful.