Are You Thankful

Thanksgiving is almost here. I have been thinking on things that I am thankful for in my life. The problem is, that I have experienced so many things this year that I am not thankful for. Things that brought heart ache and pain. Things that have brought fear and doubt. In the midst of the pain it seemed impossible to find happiness and joy. There was no way I could be thankful for what was happening. I struggled to figure out how to be thankful. One day, the question came to me during a time of prayer, the question drilled down deep into my soul. The question was very simple; "what would it take for me to be happy". It seemed like an easy enough question, but in reality it was a question that I had never wrestled with. As I thought about and prayed about the answer I was shocked by what began to form. The answer that kept coming to me was "nothing" there was nothing that I could do or nothing I could change that would bring me happiness. So the next logical question that came to mind was then why couldn't I be happy. What was keeping me from being happy or being thankful. Of course the answer was myself. I was the only one that could control whether I experienced joy, happiness and being thankful. There will always be situations or individuals in my life that will bring pain, sadness, and disappointment. However I must decide whether I am going to allow outside influences to dictate my happiness or am I going to rest in God knowing that He is the reason I can be at peace and find joy. God alone is my reason. So as we celebrate Thanksgiving today ask yourself that same question. What is keeping you for being happy?

Peace