40 Days of Fasting & Prayer--Day 35

Feb. 6th-That God’s presence would INVADE my gratitude

(1 Chronicles 16:7-36)

Much of my early development and character was shaped by the story of The Three Bears.  This particular story has nothing to do with Goldilocks, as one would naturally conclude.  It had everything to do with a paddle that my dad made when I was three years old and my brother was seven.  Soon after its conception and for reasons still unknown, three identical stickers of a bear found their way onto this paddle.  In my house there was a spoken code that my older brother and I understood.  If we were asked if we’d like to hear the story of The Three Bears then we knew that we were a mere breath away from an unpleasant encounter with the paddle.

I know that there are a lot of people that disagree with that particular form of discipline because it will squelch your child’s personality.  I turned out just fine despite my parents’ non-issue with squelching my personality all over the house.  There is no need to write me with your disapproval of this (the parenting style, that is, you may still take exception to how I turned out)…you just can’t argue with personal experience. Contrary to what the picture might suggest, I have never used it on my own kids.  We used something a little more discreet.

My mother was instrumental in instilling a sense of gratitude within me.  It is a characteristic that I can’t attribute to anything other than my mother.  I’ll even go so far as to say that gratitude may be one of the few character strengths I possess not associated with the above said form of discipline.  Mom didn’t need the paddle for this because she lived it and modeled it for me and I caught it from her.

There is a running joke about my mom.  The joke isn’t at her expense as much as it is an exaggeration of one of those things that people admire about her.  Mom has never received a gift where she did not absolutely gush with appreciation.  You could give my mom a piece of raw pork in a dirty ash tray and she would squeal, “Thank you!!”

I am grateful for a lot of things, and that list isn’t limited to the traditional “wife, kids, shelter, health, friends and forgiveness” that we bring up before the meal on Thanksgiving.  I’m thankful for things we don’t hear about very often.  Things like the wisdom of elders, the friendship of a dog, Chapstick, indoor plumbing, heat, encouragement and buffets.  In truth, the list is too long for this simple blog.  The list isn’t too long to reflect upon in life though.

We have more to be grateful for than most of the world, but gratitude isn’t an earmark of our society.  I am convinced of this because of the discontentment that marks us instead.  Gratitude is the key to contentment.  When we are thankful for what we have, we aren’t driven to have more and more.

I inherited the paddle that was created about four decades ago.  It now sits in my office as a symbol of my gratitude.  I have gratitude because of the discipline from the Holy Spirit.  I have gratitude for being loved enough to correct.  I have gratitude that with His corrections come His blessings.  I have gratitude that He trusts me with His blessings.  I have gratitude that His blessings have led to great contentment.

“God, You are so wonderful and sometimes I do not fully recognize Your Hand working in and through my life.  Forgive me of my entitlement mentality and invade me with childlike innocence when I’m blessed by You.  I thank You today for sending Your Son to redeem me from a life of apathy and irrelevance!”