It’s all relative isn’t it? It’s no wonder we are confused!
I step out of my house, walk half a mile southeast to the newly developed neighborhoods who have brand new everything: granite countertops, new furniture, luscious space, and decorations.
I step out of my office at Open Door in East Baltimore. I see homeless people laying on heat vents to try to stay warm and digging through someone else’s trash to find something to eat.
I have less than some, more than others.
I pass someone at the store that struggles with obesity. To them I would have a slender physique.
I watch the rock solid bodies of the young ladies at my daughter’s gymnastic class and I am suddenly very aware of the fact that there is a physical battle going on with the lower half of my body to keep it from turning into mashed potatoes. (In keeping with the Thanksgiving theme!)
I have less than some, more than others.
Perhaps I am gauging what I have or do not have to be “thankful for” through the wrong type of lens. If I leave my thankful pendulum up to this ever swaying mental game, my heart and attitude will always be teetering back and forth, totally conducive to my circumstance, surroundings and appearance. Sounds like a lot of conditions on thankfulness doesn’t it?! God does not want my (our) thankfulness to be conducive to the current trends, conditions, material possessions, and/or my appearance. At a moment’s notice any one of these things could change. I know how the world would react, but how would I react? Would it look different? It should!
In Philippians 4:11-13 Paul says, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
May the Lord defog the areas of our thankfulness that are fickle! And may He reveal in us a true genuine unconditional THANKFUL heart this Thanksgiving season and every season!
~Wendy Mindte
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