We often hear people say that we should try to see things from other people’s perspectives or we should try to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Both of these expressions involve looking at situations through a different lens. This alternate viewpoint can help us discover things in ourselves and others that we couldn’t recognize from our own frame of reference. It helps to change our outlook. So, what does it mean see everything through a lens of gratitude? What does it mean to live with this lens permanently fixed?
It means that we thank God for all things: the good, the wonderful, the amazing, but also the not-so-good, the challenging, and the stuff that just really sucks. It is easy to be thankful for weddings, for new lives, for promotions, college acceptances, and other things that bring us happiness but, we will not truly be living our lives looking through a lens of gratitude unless we find ways to thank the Lord for the things that others might not consider blessings. This is not easy but our quality of life is improved tremendously when we take the time to thank God for everything in our lives, not just the things that are in our favor. If we adopt an attitude of “I get to” rather than “I have to,” it gives us a more positive outlook in our daily lives. I want to grow in gratitude to grow closer to God and to truly reveal all the hidden blessings in my life.
So, I thank God for sore muscles because it means I have a body that can be challenged physically.
I get to finish my plate of homemade Ecuadorian food even when I’m not entirely sure what constitutes said food.
i thank God for broken Chacos because they present a chance for me and friends to laugh and come up with creative ways to fix them.
I thank God for my top bunk because it means I have a warm bed to climb into at night.
I thank God for no wifi because I am able to focus solely on my relationships with my squad here in Ecuador.
I get to get on a school bus at 6:45 to teach kids who may or may not understand what I’m saying.
I thank God for conflicting viewpoints because it gives me a chance to learn about another person.
I thank God for tough questions from high schoolers about science and religion because I know that I don’t have all the answers (and that’s okay) but He does.
I get to clean bathrooms and wash dishes because we have running water, hot showers, and working toilets.
I thank God for all the little frustrations that accompany living in community because this means that I get to be surrounded by people who love me and love the Lord.
I thank God for my teammate Paxtyn (aka Pax or Paxtyncita). She is an incredible friend, a hard worker, and a true Christ follower. She has an incredible heart people and she is a talented artist and singer. When she worships, her passion for the Lord shines so clear. Paxtyn needs a little more than $1,000 to reach her fundraising deadline for the end of the month. About 100 people read each blog I post. If each reader of this blog donated just $5, she would be just under halfway there! And, if people share this blog (we all have friends), think about how many more people might read it? Please join me in praying for the Lord to provide her with the funds and if you feel called to donate, you can do so on her blog (you should also check out her blogs cause they’re awesome) by clicking here. I thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to grow, laugh, and learn alongside Paxtyn.
So, what do you get to do today? What are you thankful for?
I can’t promise that everything in your life will be good but if you adopt a lens of gratitude, you will find yourself thanking the Lord for blessings you never recognized.
