Our lives are filled with rituals and routines. I’m fairly certain the same is true for you. At this mark on the calendar routine is something that can make or break the peaceful moments in our house. To some degree the kids need routine (or structure) in order to feel a sense of security. So we have tried hard to develop and maintain a level of routine in our daily activities.
On a “normal” evening our routine consists of baths after supper, playing bull fighter by running through the bath towel several times, pajamas, a little Disney DVD, and then bedtime. At bedtime Tressa and I usually split the duties putting the kids to bed. We have a prayer with them and tuck them in for the night. One of the greatest joys in my life right now is to hear my children praying. Their pure, innocent, and sometimes naïve conversations with God are truly heart-tugging.
The other night I was kneeling over Callie in her bed and we were praying. I’m leading her through some things to be thankful for and we always try to pray for those who are marginalized by society; the poor, the lonely, etc. As I was thanking God for her bed, and pillow, and clothes, and such, she says, “And thank you that they don’t got no bed.” Now what she meant was “be with those who don’t have a bed.” Her syntax and vocabulary is still under development. But it got me to thinking.
Have you ever been thankful for what you don’t have? Have you ever praised God that you have not received a blessing that you have been desiring? “Oh Lord, thank you that I am unemployed or in a job I hate so that I may learn to trust in you more.” Or how about “Oh Lord, thank you for this illness so that I may learn dependence upon you rather than myself.”
Paul wrote to the Corinthians regarding a certain thorn in his flesh?
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.
We do have to be careful, though, that our attitude is not like the Pharisee of Luke 18 who thanked God that he was not like other men. “Thank you God that I haven’t won a bunch of money so I’m not as big of a jerk as so and so?” Umm, no.
Consider some things in your life for which you have prayed to happen yet are still waiting for them to transpire. I challenge you to thank God “that you don’t got no bed”. Not that you give up on your requests, but that you submit to God’s will and seek purpose in your season of doubt.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11
I like what C.S. Lewis says about routines (such as the seasons, sunrise, sunset, etc.) it gives us the ability to live each season or day differently, yet we also have the reassurance of stability. So God gives us variety and reassurance at the same time.
Regarding being thankful for what we don’t have, I think it is VERY important to cultivate that attitude, in many ways more important than being thankful for what we do have. If you are thankful in all things, you will be thankful no matter your circumstances. The inverse is not true.
Well said Shane. Thanks!
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