Choosing to be Thankful for Others!

I believe in choosing to be thankful for others.  I don't think we realize how much we have missed over the course of the last year and a half with this pandemic in relationship wealth.  It all got so easily stripped away and so many of us were forced to do life devoid of significant face to face relationships. 

 Brenee Brown writes,

We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honour the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.  Love is not something that we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists in each one of them.

This is the journey that I have been on and have been so thankful for the mentors in my life walking this out with me right now. 

Relationships are gold and never lose their value as long as we invest in them and not measure them for what they do for us.   What I mean is this...if we are also waiting for others to reach out to us or keeping score of who is initiating the call or conversation,  then we are missing the point.

Also, when I'm with someone and hear their story,  can I genuinely be happy for them despite my situation?  Being thankful for others also means I stop comparing myself to them. We can allow ourselves to be consumed by what others are doing or we can choose to focus on what Jesus and Holy Spirit is doing in us and be truly thankful for what is happening with them.

Thankfulness also makes me fully embody this truth, "but for the grace of God, go I."  We are so often quick to judge or make judgements on others especially when we think they are making poor choices.

Often our own brokenness is on display when we point out the flaws of others.   We are all dealing with our own inadequacies and failures and were trapped at one moment or another...BUT, just at the right time when we were powerless, Jesus showed up!

Romans 5:6-8

When others really irittate you just be thankful and please remember our real enemy is never another person.  It is often the spirit of fear, anxiety or confusion that often wreaks havoc in relationships.   Whenever we get into groups whether through politics, worldviews or values that we choose to keep people "in" or "out", we create division and conflict.   

Oswald Chambers writes, 

The joy Jesus experienced was from His absolute surrender and self sacrifice to the Father. Joy doesn't come from perfect circumstances,  but from a perfect understanding of God and trust in Him.

Let's trust God in this season and remember that we are called to be thankful for others .

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:15-17