Thankfulness
Eccl. 9:7-9
7. Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.
8. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.
9. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun-- all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.
I was a nursing home chaplain, I put together a Thanksgiving multimedia program. I asked residents what they were thankful for. After living a long life (most were in their 90’s) what mattered most, most were thankful for the health they did have, family, and faith. Their basic needs were met in the home. They had a shelter. They had food. They had clothes. After those needs were met, they thought on what they could enjoy as long as they had life on this earth.
1 Tim 6:8 “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” In light of our present economy, we tend to forget the basics and worry about all the stuff we lost or can’t have. After awhile we are miserable, but when we think of what we do have we realize we are blessed.
With death in mind, Solomon concentrates on enjoying the essentials while we have them. In these three verses he is thankful for food, clothes and family. Isn’t that worth praising God today for those gifts? Enjoy them. Life might be a struggle, but there are small blessings today you might miss.
I have enjoyed food too much, but when I have enjoyed food the most was when I have been very hungry. After I had to fast before a surgical procedure, peanut butter on toast in my post operation room never tasted as good! I was starved. It was a blessing to eat again.
Feasting times at holidays, birthdays, and special occasions can be enjoyed as blessings from the Lord. I never envied the very rich who work themselves up with such stress it results in ulcers. Their food was reduced to a diet of Maalox and milk toast all the time.
Contentment with something to eat and something to wear allows anyone to thank the Lord for today. There are some who go to bed hungry and naked. If you can get out of bed, get dressed, comb your hair, brush your teeth, and get dressed, thank the Lord. Begin your day with Him and think on the gifts He has given you today to enjoy.
If you have a family, love them. Appreciate them. Realize they deserve your attention and your priority next to the Lord. They are also a gift from God to you. You have a part you play in this mini-organization whether you are a son, daughter, mom, dad, sibling or in-law. Recognize that no one is perfect. All need forgiveness. If God gives us a spouse, enjoy him/her while we have life, for the day will come when we will be parted. Tell them you love them today while there is time.
I asked one man how he could live with his nagging wife. His answer surprised me. “If you get a lemon, learn to make lemonade.” Put some sugar in the relationship and be the one to give love.
Learn to be thankful for your daily gifts.
