Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
My mother grew up in a small community in southwest Oklahoma. She shared with me several great stories of her time in this little farming town. It was easy to tell that, although her childhood was not filled with material things, it was a full life surrounded by family and friends. My mom’s childhood was not always easy, but she saw much of it as a blessing.
One particular story was about my grandmother’s determined work to care for her family after the death of my grandfather. My grandmother was left with five young children to care for and little resources to do so. My mom said that my grandmother planted a garden in every available spot around town. She worked her gardens and canned her harvest to feed her family.
My mom taught me an invaluable lesson about gratitude through stories like these. It would be easy to look back on difficult circumstances, such as the loss of a spouse and parent, and find little to be thankful for – but my mom always saw the blessings in these hard times. She chose to be grateful for what they were able to accomplish in the face of sadness and adversity. This spirit of gratitude gave my mother a strength to face difficult times throughout her life.
Each of us has the ability to choose how we see the circumstances in our lives. We can focus on the tragic, unfortunate, and often uncontrollable moments – or we can choose to be grateful, even in the midst of tough times. I am reminded, as I think back on my mom’s stories, that there is tremendous strength in gratitude.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
