As I watch the nightly news, I see conflict, unrest, disobedience. In this country. I am saddened by how unhappy people seem to be. I also understand this is not new. As a country, with many freedoms, people display their displeasure without being in fear of their lives. But what if we focused on the positive, on what is right in this country? Wouldn’t that bring about successful dialogue and bring opposing views together, under the umbrella of love and respect?
When I first started writing, almost 4 years ago, I had just finished reading “1,000 Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. She inspired me to focus on the blessings in my life each day. I started looking outside myself and started taking a different look at my life- what blessings do I see? I called my first attempt at a blog, “Thankful November.” As I look back at those posts, this is what I was thankful for: $2.99 chicken breasts, pigeons, baseball, jury duty, time, Sundays, church, children, Election Day, soldiers, vacant lots, the Bible, teachers, garbage men, seasons, porches, traffic, dogs, birthdays, first responders, water, the human heart, words, rain.
Can we as an individual, a group, a community, a city, a state, a nation, start to focus on the positive? The blessings in our lives, being a thankful people. Let us build each other up. Let us love our friends, as well as our enemies. And in so doing, may God be glorified, a hurting nation healed, and hearts turned back to God.
Luke 6: 35-36: ““Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”