I am grateful that God in his infinite goodness chose me, formed me, loved me, and never gives up on me. I can’t appreciate completely who and what I am, and should be, but I can trust that God made me with wonderful and loving intent.
I am grateful for family, and friends, especially since they’ve played such a generous part in my care and healing these last three years.
I am grateful for my home, not only a haven and refuge for our extended family, but a little place on the edge of the city where I get to watch for meteors, deer in the field, and ducks, geese, cranes, beavers, and muskrats on the little pond next to the house.
I am grateful that I’ve received life changing medical care.
I am grateful for the little church in the country where we worship, the priest who serves there to bring us the Bread of Life, the Word, and the people there who join in fellowship. I am grateful for the patrimony and gift of my faith, handed down and sacrificed for through these many centuries.
I am grateful for my grandchildren, and the opportunity to see the world through their eyes.
Gratitude can change the world, because it will change your life. May we all remember our blessings every day.
This is just a start.
If you have some other topic or gripe or snark, do not post it here. You’ve got plenty of other posts here to express yourself on.
Lord, You knitted me together in my mother’s womb, even in the darkness, I cannot hide from You,
Every day of my life was written in Your book, how precious are Your thoughts, every where I look!
Nothing as strong as an Attitude of Gratitude-
#Blessed
I thank Thee, O Lord, for bringing me to the light of another day,
with all Your blessings and graces. Grant that I may achieve the
height of perfection to which You may lead me. Repair for me,
I entreat Thee, the harm that I have brought to the souls of others.
Amen.
Amen.
I am thankful that, before the foundation of the world, in love and with no consideration of the merit I would never possess, the Lord purposed to sacrifice his Son to save me, and millions of others, from the power and the penalty of our sins. And I am thankful that even the faith that allowed us who freely would to accept this redemption is a gift from almighty God, because of his matchless great love for us.. “No greater love…” indeed.
“It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given.
One or the other becomes a habit of life.”
~ Elisabeth Elliot, author/missionary ~
Such a thought-provoking post, Menagerie. Thank you!
It’s a beautiful thing to read these testimonies of thankful people.
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Yes, even for the sorrow and suffering – because He uses them for our good.
For several years now, I’ve asked the Lord to make me a thankful person.
Ever since sin entered the world, our hearts are naturally discontented.
Our adversary, the devil, HATES for us to be thankful and content with what God has given.
That’s how he tempted Adam and Eve – to focus on what they did not have – rather than on the bounty of goodness the Lord had given them.
I want to be content with how God has made me, what He has given me, and where He has placed me.
It’s a spiritual discipline – and usually a daily battle.
The world is always luring us away from the things of God.
But He has graciously promised to help us in our weakness.
And the Holy Spirit gives us gentle reminders that a heart full of thanksgiving and gratitude is the most excellent way to live. God’s way!
At the top of my “Thankful List” >
ALL of my sins – not some of them – have been washed away and forgiven.
Jesus’ death on the cross – for all mankind – made this possible.
He has clothed me with His righteousness, and made me faultless to stand before His Throne.
I am so thankful He does NOT treat me as my sins deserve.
If God never gave me another thing while on earth, He has already given me more than I deserve. And I am so thankful.
That truly is “amazing grace” … how sweet the sound … that saved a wretch like me!
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. (8)
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. (10)
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; (11)
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (12)
Psalm 103:8, 10-12
Thank you again, Menagerie, for providing this space to bless the Lord …
🙏🏻
I am grateful for a God who often waits until the last minute to “show off” :)…A God who knows everyone and everything, understands the big picture but is interested in the little details too, a God who made the stars and the little children, a God who ison the side of the orphan, widow, and weak and encourages us to love them with His love. I am grateful for the God of my father, mother, and ancestors who is with my mother today as she recovers f in the hospital from a fall. I am grateful for my husband and the the flowers from our garden which he has just arranged for my wonderful precious hilarious Mum…Thank you Lord for this day. “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights” James 1:17
I am so grateful for God’s patience and kindness in bringing me closer to Him. One of Lauren daigle’s songs has a line
‘You say I am held, even when I’m falling short’.
I feel like that’s me, all the time, and I’m thankful He gives me reminders of His faithfulness. 🙏🏼
👍
Amen!
♥️♥️♥️
There is now therefore no condemnation for Deplorable Nazarene Zealot who is in Christ Jesus!
NOT CONDEMNED! Hallelujah and amen!
Thank you, Menagerie.
Thank you for the reminder to be grateful in practice. A brutal lifelong battle has caused me to intensely study what makes a joyful life. I have discovered the following truths:
1) It is impossible to be grateful and not be joyful. Understand that joy and happiness are two completely different things. Happiness is fully dependent on a perceived sufficiency or lack of some quantity and is therefore transitory.
2) The opposite of fear is not a lack of fear. The opposite of fear is joy because joy is the conviction that things can and will necessarily get better.
Thus, the pathway to joy runs straight through a spirit of gratitude. Without a belief in God, there would be no object for that gratitude, nor would there be an anchor for the hope upon which joy is based. One conquers fear through gratitude, joy and praise. King David knew and practiced this.
I am grateful for God who saved me through the sacrifice of His own Son (2 Corinthians 5:21). I am grateful that He never leaves me nor forsakes me even when I feel completely bereft (Matthew 28:20). I am ever grateful that He stands by me, despite my wandering (Hebrews 13:5). I am grateful for His patience (Romans 8:38-39). I am grateful that in this world of confusion, I can stand on the absolute rock of every single word of scripture (John 8:31-32).
I am thankful for truth.
Thank you Menagerie. I am grateful 🙏 for my Savior, Jesus Christ who took my sins and carried them to the cross. May all my treepers friends be blessed..
I am grateful
Amen
Amen! God is good!
I am grateful for escaping abuse, poverty, and long lasting family pitfalls.
I am grateful to be married for 23 years to a marvelous woman who loves me despite of my flaws. Despite my errors and mistakes.
I am grateful for my three sons. I am grateful that they are amazing young men.
I am grateful to live in a time where food is plentiful and water is delivered to our homes.
I am grateful that I think for myself.
I am grateful knowing that I am not alone in my beliefs.
I am grateful that God is forgiving.
I am grateful that Sundance – and his accomplices like Menagerie – provide such useful analysis of our political situation, and willingly do so through a Biblical lens. That is such a rarity! So, so, appreciated. As a Christian, there is no other way to see the world.
🙏 Amen Sundance, I too live just outside of a City here in north Texas and can enjoy many of the same things you are able to!!! 🤠
It’s really good to be thankful all year but here’s something I started doing with my family in November. Every day we list one thing we are grateful for and then on thanksgiving while we are together we read through the list.
I started doing it as a reaction to Halloween. All October people go crazy with Halloween decorations and it’s fun but it also gets a little demonic. And, Halloween isn’t even a true holiday.
November has a true holiday in Thanksgiving and it is biblical to be thankful. I thought to myself, Why not do something all November to remember that instead of it just being a speed bump on the way to Christmas?
So we started the list and everyone enjoys taking a little time to think about things they are thankful for each day all month. And when it is Thanksgiving day it is more meaningful than in years past especially as we all get older.
For the last three years it has been a rewarding to me and my family so I thought I’d share.
This morning I read this beautiful writing of thankfulness. My heart was full! As the morning progressed I forgot to be thankful and instead was a ungrateful person. Ugh. I truly am blessed and thankful for everyday, every tribulation, every happy moment, my grown children, my growing grandchildren. Somedays I’m just mad at me! My heart and mind hurt seeing, even myself, disgruntled, ungrateful and madness unfolding all around causing the destruction of our beautiful children, our Country, the crime, our food quality et el. I’ve lost my smile… darn it! Its evening now and the glorious day had me as a quest of all Gods beauty and goodness! Somedays, it just gets to me. Thank you Mengarie for bringing me back!! Thank you God! Thank you family and my Treehouse branch❤
God is Good! All the Time
TY menagerie. Awesome message/reminder.
God Bless always!
This is a book mark that I keep in my Prayer Book:
“I complained that I had no shoes,
Until I met a man who had no feet.”
What a beautiful reminder of how precious and sustaining our faith should be. Thank you.
A sense of Gratitude and honestly being thankful and gracious is the single most powerful therapeutic intervention I’ve found in over 20 years of treating patients for depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances. I have them to count their blessing when they go to bed, when they wake during the night, count more of them. During the day, find just two individuals to say a truly heartfelt “Thank you.” The lesser their social and economical standing, the better to extend a gracious acknowledgement to. Try this for just 2 weeks and it will become a way of life, a daily practice and beneficial peace to you, your family, friends and co-workers.
I am grateful for pretty much everything. God’s Word tells me that in all things be thankful and to rejoice and be glad in each day. I look each day for the unique present He sends.
Today, is enjoying the neighbor kids outside playing as children everywhere should. One is on a scooter, non motorized, another is bouncing up and down the driveway on his new pogostick. A bigger kid went by earlier on an old fashioned skate board, another on his bicycle. We have a thunderstorm moving in and they don’t care until the rain starts. No helmets or knee pads.
I’m so thankful God lead my family to this wonderful place where children can play outside, neighbors help neighbors, our schools aren’t woke and teach the Bible. People greet each other on the street and in stores with a Hey and Have a blessed day.
To end, I wish ya’ll a blessed evening and week. Be well and praise the Lord!
Every morning after I say my prayers I end with this:
Thank you St. Mary for saying yes.
Thank you St. Joseph for raising Jesus as your own.
Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice to save me; I pray that I am worthy.
And thank you God for the gift of faith.
Amen.
I’m thankful for my children and my husband. I went a long time thinking I was never going to have a family, and even after I met my husband, we had a difficult period of infertility. Not an uncommon problem amongst my generation… we were raised to celebrate abortion and careerism and treat babies like some kind of fatal disease. But then when you get down to it, when you start trying, after a decade or more of work stress and birth control, you learn how very difficult it can be.
I thank God every day that we got through that. What little miracles they are.
Another beautiful post, Menagerie! Years ago I read a book by Ann Voskamp “One Thousand Gifts” and it changed my life. She was tasked with finding one new blessing every day (no repeats) to be grateful for. Her writing is sublime and I decided to do the same. God pours out blessings everyday, and with each passing day I see more and more. As the song goes, “I once was blind but now I see”.
When I am depressed the only way I can break out of it is with this kind of gratitude. And these days it is all too easy to feel beaten down and depressed. But an attitude of gratitude just like you posted is the remedy for what ails the soul. I learned that the hard way but am a much better person for finally grasping that simple truth…beautiful post!
Thank you for sharing this today. I rarely have time to come and visit. I am comforted by these words, Menagerie.
I am struggling but I am faithful
I am grateful for God’s comforting assurance, that He has us firmly in His own hands; and that whatever we may think (or guess) our circumstances to be, He has the full long view, and has set His Angel to guard us on our way.
I am grateful for Jesus loving us and giving Himself for us, to redeem our souls, and make the Atonement by His own blood; that He might bring us back to God as His children.
And I am grateful for His great patience and gentleness, while we are learning how to walk with Him in Truth.
I am grateful for the Promise, that “The JUDGE of all the earth, will do right; and that the day of vengeance IS IN HIS HEART: that there is coming a day of reckoning, when the good and the innocent and the righteous shall be finally and for ever given righteousness; and all the bad, and all causes of sin, shall be taken away for ever: and “The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
Peace be with you. Amen
Today before the service Fr Anthony read a letter from the Papal Nuncio to Bishop Silvio of Honolulu diocese as regards the tragedy in Lahaina Maui (not just there – other parts of Maui also suffering from fire). But as we say “One ohana in Christ” we will get through this.
I am grateful for this God given life on this wonderous planet & all loving people that enjoy it with me. To all those ungrateful haters, I pray that God’s grace & mercy wash your soul!!
>>> “May we all remember our blessings every day.”
Amen.
Thanks, Menagerie, for your soft, inspirational words. May God continue to bless us all.
~ EM
Thank you Menagerie
I am grateful for my father surviving yet another surgery.
-Grateful for the human, imperfect, but God reflecting parents, extended family, church, community of churches, and community in which I grew up.
-Grateful for my failures and imperfections that cause me to depend on you
-Grateful for this country, God’s guidance and presence in the thinking of our founders
-Grateful for the fruit of those in the history of the world and in our country who put their faith in you
-Grateful for your design of the world, especially the creation of Man the the wisdom and wonder in which you made us, and the splendor of this Earth in which you set us.
-Grateful for the human Spirit made in your image the sacred privilege I have to watch men grow in you, flounder and find your grace and mercy, the the power of love which reflects you in the transformation of men.
-Grateful for connection, relationship and that it is never enough — keeping me longing for the connection with you that is not of this Earthly world and in which we will know you fully.
-Grateful for the connection with loved ones that I have, and see expressed by others that validates my hope and faith in You.
-Grateful for the blessing you gave me and the freedom and guidance you give me in using them
-Grateful for the opportunity to see the difference you make in this world through me when I submit to you in humility, love, and service
I am grateful, oh so grateful for everything, Lord. Everything.
I am grateful for the old raggedy pillow I’ve been blessed to lie my head on for over 50 years. Yes, it is old, yes it is raggedy, yes, it has had many face lifts and new covers, but deep inside, it is still my old raggedy pillow, and for that Lord, I am thankful.
I am grateful for the sheets that are clean, the mattress that is up off the floor, the room that is dark and quiet, and the window that opens and closes to let cool air in, and then keep it out. For Your kindness in giving comfort in sleep, I am grateful.
For the stacks of dirty dishes I am extremely grateful, knowing we had food to cook, food to eat, a stove that works, water that runs clean, dishes to eat off of, a table to sit at, a loving husband to share meals with, oh Lord, we give You thanks.
For the cat hair in more bites of food than I want, for cat hair that hides on clothes and cat hair that sneaks into corners, I am grateful. It means my little lovies are alive and well, and God has allowed them in our lives for fun and tenderness in our old age. For KiKi our very big boy, and CoCo our very big girl, I am grateful
For friends so dear, for enemies that keep me before Your Throne Lord, for hardship, for trials, for aches and pains, I am grateful.
I am grateful to You, Father of all mercy, Jesus, The Only Savior of mankind, and Holy Spirit Who lives and moves and Is One with the Father and the Son, I am grateful.
There is no one, there is nothing greater than You.
Holy
Holy
Holy
Lord
God
Almighty
Day and night, before and around Your Throne, Your Name is praised.
I am grateful to be part of Your chorus.
Wow! Awesome!
Amen.
A person can’t be grateful and negative at the same time.
I am grateful that I could listen to the night singing and see the shooting stars last night Not every evening that happens. It was fun.
Thanks for the post, always good to remember to be grateful for the big and small things.
Two parts:
Lately, I’m glad my big sister decided to go to a medical appointment with my 89 year old parents.
She generally leaves that up to their visiting caretaker. But a few months ago she went to wait for
my mom’s appointment. And fell face first, hit the floor. Her heart stopped, they got it going again,
and rushed her in for a pacemaker. She’s still alive and kicking. Thank god anyway, but particularly
for putting the bug in her ear to go with my folks that day.
Two years ago I was immensely grateful to those posting here, my terrific neighborhood, and my
awesome friends , sunday school class, and coworkers. If anyone has the misfortune to lose a loved
one as I lost my wife, I wish them similar amounts of love and caring as I and my children received.
I still almost feel guilty from all the love and caring I received during that time.
I cannot imagine your grief, and am grateful God placed loving and caring people around you to be His hands, feet and words through the storm.
And wow, I am grateful God nudged your sister to go with your parents — at just the right time.
Thank you for this post, Menagerie. I love the topic and am sharing this at work. I’ve found the gratitude message to be something sorely needed there. I’m also sharing a few reader comments.
Personally, I find it difficult to really experience joy without gratitude. It helps you find the good by finding that which you are thankful for.
Such an important message.
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Amen, Menagerie
Thankful here on Cape Cod.
Glory to God for all things!
Gratitude is the secret to happiness.
A pond of tranquility in a sea of madness.
To quote Peanuts: “What if today we were just grateful for everything?”
Thank you! I woke up feeling bored and lonely. Then I read this post. Thank you Jesus!
I am grateful that this swampy bs doesn’t bother me too much. The Lord shall show the way and take care of things as He sees fit. Everything else is stuff and nonsense.
I am so grateful that the Lord is all-knowing, all-powerful and yet He is merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth! Without His love in my life, I would have ruined myself (and probably others) long ago!
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’
‘Oh, you’re such a good boy,’ she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive
through downtown?’
‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly..
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.’
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice.. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I said.
‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.
‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~ THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
At the bottom of this great story was a request to forward this – I deleted that request because if you have read to this point, you won’t have to be asked to pass it along you just will…
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance……….
That short story is so magnificent you want to describe it in detail, but then that would just ruin the extraordinary spell it leaves you in.