Circumstances and gratitude

When he bought the house, James knew about needed repairs. He researched the repair costs, anticipated the financial demand, and knew of the time and patience it would take to restore his new home. Still, his enthusiasm around the purchase remained high; he was pleased with himself and the plans he made. And the circumstances surrounding the purchase were just as he expected.

That is, until move-in day.

Placing storage boxes in the basement revealed that, in the month since purchasing the home, the foundation cracks had grown and revealed a larger problem that couldn’t be ignored. Suddenly, gratitude for this home turned into disappointment, frustration and self-doubt.

Surprising circumstances often shake our faith foundations too. When suddenly confronted with the unexpected, we respond by diminishing our core values and commitments. Finding solutions that will return us to a place of comfort and control can take priority over trust and gratitude. Disappointment often reduces our sense of gratitude for the resources of time, energy and wealth that we enjoy daily.

Disappointment is part of my everyday life, and I imagine that is true for you too. Circumstances for all of us also change frequently. Families grow, cars need repairs, tuition increases and purchases can’t wait. The question is; what gives? When car repairs demand more of the tight budget, we grab dollars from our “first fruits” meant for church or various non-profits.

But foundational values of trust, faithfulness, obedience and stewardship are non-circumstantial. We rob ourselves of opportunities to see God’s miracles at work when we suspend our commitments in favor of doing it ourselves. Gratitude is foundational, not circumstantial.

  

I encourage you to count your blessings this Thanksgiving and to include all your circumstances in that list.