A Reminder . . .
__________ people are happy people and happy people are __________ people.
It is natural to see grace as giving us what we do not have while ignoring what we do have. This is related to the American concept of rights – we are entitled to all we have (and probably more!) and don’t have to be thankful for “just getting by.”
Most of us have so much already, there is little God can give us to make us happy – unless it is thankfulness for what we have. Maybe the greatest challenge of life is developing the discipline, and resulting habit, of thankfulness for what we have, and keep our wants in perspective – rather than being obsessed with the trinketry we don’t have and taking what we have, and is really important, for granted.
It is spiritual to understand the truth:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights . . . Jas 1:17
And to grow in grace – which, for people that have just about everything, is in thankfulness. If we need more (and most of us do) what we need is greater thankfulness for what we ALREADY have. There is nothing more discouraging than being dissatisfied and there is little that can beat thankfulness.
Thankful people are happy people and happy people are thankful people.
Seek this grace – exercise this discipline – develop this habit!