Father, I Thank Thee

We went up to Pennsylvania this past weekend to have a birthday party for our princess. I love going to Pennsylvania for a few reasons: 1) seeing family that we don't see often enough 2) I LOVE the area where my parents live 3) My dad is a pastor, and I just can't seem to find a church down here that I love as much as hearing my own dad preach. It's just not the same, and I'm never completely content with the church we're in. Anyway....

My dad's sermon yesterday really hit home. As I mentioned in the previous post about all the drama we've had in the last year and a half or so, I tend to have a negative attitude about a lot of things that happen to us. We've had sicknesses, surgeries, major car troubles, financial troubles, house troubles... you name it, we have more than likely had it to some degree between the three of us in the last year and a half. But, my dad's sermon was to always remember to thank God for what we have. There may be people out there with nicer stuff than what we have, nicer stuff that we are jealous of, but there is always someone out there that has it worse than you do. As humans, we tend to want things that we really don't NEED. We want brand name clothes because they look nice, we want a big name car because it's what everyone else has, we want a nice house because what will people think if our house isn't as nice as theirs is? When it comes down to it, is all that REALLY necessary? Shouldn't we be thankful that we have a car to drive whether it's a BMW or a run down Ford, that we have clothes to put on our body, that we have a roof over our heads that keeps us warm when it's cold out and cool when it's too hot out? People get too caught up with "keep up with the Jones'", and become unappreciative for what they have. Who cares if you pay $90 or $25 for your jeans? Shouldn't you be happy that you HAVE jeans to wear?

So.... before you go and start whining and complaining, or say "I HAVE TO HAVE......" because it's the bet brand there is; stop, and think about all of the people in the world that would give anything they could to have the life you do, and would give anything for the cheapest version of what you're about to buy. Then, thank God, and be thankful for what you have.


I hope this post makes you think... think about being thankful for little things. I also hope that it makes people realize that there is always someone out in the world that has it ten times worse than you do, and what do you do? Bellyache because of how bad your life is (I will totally, honestly admit that I am 100% guilty of this). Just remember to think about the wonderful stuff you have before you complain and become ungrateful!!