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In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
A five-year-old girl was asked to say the blessing at Thanksgiving dinner. She began by thanking God for all her friends, naming them one by one. Then she thanked God for Mommy, Daddy, Brother, Sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all her aunts and uncles. Finally, she gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes. Then she paused. After a long silence, the young girl looked up at her mother and asked,
“If I thank God for the broccoli, won’t He know I’m lying?”
Have you ever felt that way? We know we’re supposed to cultivate a heart of thankfulness. But let’s be honest: there’s a bunch of broccoli in our lives that is really hard to give thanks for.
Amazingly enough, by cultivating thankfulness for God’s work in me as I try to glean the lessons of loss, I’ve even come to be thankful for the trials I’ve experienced. I know that through them God has made me into the person I am today, a new and hopefully improved version, full of much more grace and love. Being thankful for everything — intentionally nurturing a heart of gratitude — is a way to bolster your faith on a daily basis. And (broccoli notwithstanding) I guarantee it will keep you in a better mood.
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Your Turn
Are you thankful for your “broccoli” today, even though that’s it’s hard? How have your trials shaped and molded you for the better? Even if you’re not quite in the place to be thankful specifically for the difficulties and painful circumstances, thank Him for what He is doing in your heart and life through them! We’d love to hear your “broccoli” thanks! Come join the conversation on our blog!