As you and your families congregate around the carcasses of animals and vegetables I want you to keep a couple things in mind…

 

Be thankful for stuff. 

 

Pretty simple, eh?   

 

No, it's not.  It is WAY easier to complain about something. 

 

And do you know what that the opposite of being thankful is?

 

Complaining.

 

When you are complaining about something, you're forgetting about all the things to be thankful about.  God doesn't want us complaining about stuff he gave us; he wants us to be thankful. 

 

The more you complain, the more you show off how selfish you are and how ungrateful you are for what you do have.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

The verse doesn't go, "Be annoyed always, grumble continually; complaining in all circumstances."

 

I'm sure we all know those people who will always find one thing to complain about in a sea of good.  Now just flip it.  Be the one person who finds something to be thankful about in a sea of bad.

 

Recently because of the wedding I was exposed to all these stupid wedding shows where these spoiled girls were crying about the dumbest stuff.  "Oh, my $1,000 bouquet doesn't match some flower on the centerpiece."  You know what?  That's us.  We're that spoiled girl.  Everyday.  We complain about stupid crap.  Nonstop.

 

But Conrad, what if the situation is just terrible, like everyone is dying and whatever?  There's nothing in the situation to be thankful for…

 

Then you can be thankful that God is working through the bad situation.   

 

RO 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

We don't go, "Well, God wants me to be thankful for everything, so God, thanks for giving mom cancer."  No, that's not how it works.  You pray that God heals her, but be thankful that God is there, that God is in control and that God can turn even the worst situations for good.  That's what you can be thankful for. 

 

Remember, God is in control.  God loves you.  He sent Christ to die for our sins.  What in the world more do you need?  Everything else on top of those things is extra.  Everything else is more stuff to be thankful for.

 

So when you get together with your family for thanksgiving, just keep this in mind.  Don't be a spoiled little brat – but rather, be one who is continually looks for things to be thankful about.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Conrad