Thanksgiving Sunday in Cebu

“You will speak before young adults on any topic of your choice,” Lynnie, the book lady of OMF Lit Cebu, wrote me. 

“I scrounged around for a topic that might interest young adults. After research and consultations with the OMF Lit editorial staff, I finally zeroed in on Grace Online and Offline. That done, I finalized my slides and manuscript. 

But the day before my trip to Cebu, Lynnie messaged me again, “The event with the young adults has been canceled. The pastor is requesting you to deliver the message on Thanksgiving Sunday.”  

“That’s tomorrow,” I replied, my pulse suddenly skipping.  

“Yes, and your topic is Overcoming Grumbling with Gratitude.” 

What!? 

The temptation to grumble was so intense, I had to pray for a smorgasbord of grace. But a sense of overwhelming gratitude eventually took over. I began to view this as an opportunity to share about the things I am grateful for—and hopefully encourage even at least one in the pews to have an attitude of gratitude.  

As I worked on my message, the problem was not what to say, but what to leave out from the glut of things I had written down. 

Remember the ancient Jews who were saved from slavery in Egypt? They didn't know how to handle such a huge blessing, and so they grumbled. This behavior forestalled their reaching the Promised Land for 40 years in the wilderness.    

I spent the rest of the day and night on my manuscript and slides, remembering not to grumble. Early the next morning, on my way to the airport, I had both packed in my luggage. 

There were about 200 people in church, decked with piles of farm harvests—the way the ancient Jews practiced thanksgiving. And then my name was called.    

In our hectic, fast-paced lives—ruled by gadgets and selfies on cyberspace—we tend to see the opposite of gratitude: grumbling.   

But if we focus on the good things we already have, they will appreciate and grow. In the same manner, if we focus on our problems . . . they too, will increase.   

Focusing on what we HAVE appreciate. These things—like plants that are nourished by sun and rain—grow.  

 

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1Thessalonians 5:18  

Like everything else on the path to mastery, gratitude is a choice. We can choose to grumble while waiting for something pleasant to arise and then be grateful.   

Or, we can choose to be grateful at all times, no matter how dire the circumstances, and enjoy how God assists us in everything we do.