My work day begins with this:
It is a perfect way to start the day, with a reminder to notice 10,000 reasons to sing and not complain, to be grateful and not harbor bitterness, to guard my tongue and change my thought patterns in order to think kindly of others and pray blessings on everyone I meet, to remind myself that my reason for singing is because He gave me a song, and I am to live that song in everything I do, every action I take, every thought I think, and every word I speak.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
I am grateful for an absence of complaints and nagging in my life. Yesterday, the radio program I happened to be listening to was focused on people who nag and complain constantly and what a drag they are to all who hear. Someone called in and said, “My wife can nag the rust off a fender.” I used to be like that, and I hope that I am no longer that person. I know what it is like to be around someone who cannot say anything nice, who has to constantly argue and dwell on the negative rather than the positive. It IS a drag, and it makes me want to avoid the negativity. I am grateful that God has worked in my life and has shown me how to share love, how to build up and not tear down, and how to find those 10,000 reasons to sing.
But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. James 3:8-10
I am grateful for time in the office to begin my day in prayer and devotions.
I am grateful for mail. My mail last night included a newsletter from Central Oregon YFC, with an article that my son-in-law wrote about his group and their Easter sunrise service. I am grateful for his ability to write with such descriptive detail that transplants the reader into the moment. My mail also included two cards from Delores that will be kept and treasured. It is so nice to receive something in the mail that is not an advertisement or a bill.
I am grateful for another cool morning to enjoy wearing a sweater, because the hot days are soon to arrive and these crisp mornings will be a memory.
I am grateful that my Texas grandchildren are being taught to say “Thank you,” when given a gift or when someone does something for them. It was so noticeable this past weekend and their “thank you’s” were not preceded with, “What do you say?” or “Tell Ama thank you,” but shared freely because they have been taught to be grateful.
I am grateful for the little bluebirds of happiness that Mom had on her kitchen windowsill.
Yesterday, I was grateful for the lessons I have learned from my Dad about talking less and listening more. Today, I am grateful for Sam and for the lessons he has taught me about taking an interest in others rather than focusing a conversation on myself. I still have a lot to learn and find myself talking WAY too much about myself when I sense awkward silence. We are so impressed with those in the “younger generations” who are more interested in reaching out to others and want to learn someone else’s story rather than being self-absorbed and commandeering a conversation to be all about them. I am grateful for our conversation this morning about the necessity for those in ministry to talk less and listen more, and our need to be more cognizant of doing this within our own families. It is a good reminder for me to think about my conversations in the last week – did I listen more than I spoke? Did I learn anything about who they are, what they do, what their defining story is? Or did I dominate the conversations I had with them focused on tales about me, about my life, about my views, about my world?
I am grateful that I am never too old, too set in my ways, to learn.
…You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore.
I am grateful that this will play on my internal jukebox today: I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free…
rhondaisgrateful 