I love this time of year. We have been blessed with a gorgeous month of warm weather and a gorgeous display of colour. It's amazing what a short walk observing the changing season from summer to fall can do for one's mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
In the midst of dour economic predictions of recession, worsening world conditions and the media's incessant focus on negative news it's easy to become disheartened. But there is so much in this world to be thankful for. God has provided the seasons of the year for our inspiration, encouragement, hope and for the earth's renewal. Look about you at God's endless palette of colors - the glory shining in His warmly hued landscape. Take a walk at night outside away from the city lights and observe the wonder of the stars that He has created. The beauty and order of the created universe displays His majesty and power and conveys to the believer's heart an assurance that God also is in control of our lives.
I am grateful for family. My wife and I have had the privilege of travelling to three provinces this summer and connected with my mother, all of our children and grandchildren and each of our siblings. We celebrated our 40th anniversary with our children and grandchildren. I am deeply grateful to God for my wife who has stood by me faithfully these four decades and for the blessing of our children.
Has it always been easy? Certainly not. My wife has survived two different cancers and still suffers from some of the effects of powerful chemical treatments she endured. I had surgery for lung cancer last year and experienced chemotherapy. We are grateful for life and health. We have also experienced the pain of watching our youngest son struggle with debilitating case of schizophrenia and the searing pain of his death by suicide. There have been numerous occasions where it would have been easy to succumb to bitterness, anger, resentment and wallow in self-pity. Yet we chose to follow the biblical command to "be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
You see, gratitude changes the playing field. It has the power to lift you above your circumstances and to see things from another perspective, through a different lens. As you turn your focus on the God who created you and loves you will experience a change within yourself - a transformation. All around me I see the signs that remind me of His loving care. When I look upon the mountains I'm thankful that when I tremble with weakness, His arm can make me strong. When I look upon the sunsets or gaze upon the glory of sunrise I am thankful that when life's trials seem most unbearable, His grace is sufficient to meet the deepest needs of my heart. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulnessthe Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the One who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:22, 23, 25)
As I look upon a rainbow I am thankful for all the promises of God and for the beauty of life and the grace to die when that time of my earthly sojourn is over. I look upon the stars and am grateful that eternity is a reality and that He has prepared a place for me.
A woman who attended a conference on learning to live with thanksgiving was convicted of her negative attitude in life and began to see how this attitude contributed to her misery. She repented of this negativity and made a commitment to live life more joyfully. And an amazing thing happened. Her life took on a new radiance and she became a role model and had a positive influence not only on her family but her associates in the community and workplace. That's the power of a grateful heart.
May this become for you a season of thanksgiving and thanks living.
Ted Goossen is pastor of the Mennonite Christian Centre Fellowship at 328 Thompson Dr.
