Holiday Attitude Adjustment

Thanksgiving is looked on as a time to take inventory of what we have to be thankful for. But for some, it’s a time when we look back and whine about the things we have lost. We can get caught up in the trap of looking at possessions, friends, family, finances, and other things that we had, but no longer have. It distracts us, causes us to focus on past failures/loses, robs us of joy in our lives, and can make us live in a depressed state.

I can understand this even more than ever before. Despite what some may think, for most of my 45+ years, I’ve had a rather upbeat and positive outlook on life. Something may get me down, but I’m over it in short order. Not because my life has been a bed of roses without issues though. Many can attest that I’ve had my share (sometimes it seems more than my share) of difficulties; financial, family, marriage, church, health, death of a Son, lost almost everything I owned, the list is rather long. Sometimes if I dwell on the difficult times I’ve had, it can cause my attitude and personality to change. Getting beat down by life can have a devastating effect on a person. The longer you dwell on it, the greater the chance we can slide into depression thus making it harder to return to some sense of normalcy in our lives.

Friends and family can give you advice during times like these, but they can’t change our attitudes for us. The only way that can happen is for us to realize that we have to make the decision to rebound. Sometimes it seems easier to stay where we are and have a pity party, but eventually that will grow old both to you and your friends.

I battled this for some time and one day while having lunch with my best friend, he told me that I wasn’t the same person I was just a few years back. I asked him what he meant and he told me, “You’ve lost the zest and thrill for life that you once had. You either lost it or someone/something took it from you”. I told him that I’ve been through so much and that I lost a little at a time until I arrived at the point I am now. I may never get back to where I once was. He proceeded to tell me that getting to where I am may not have been anything I had control over, but getting out of there is something I do have control over. You can sit and sour or you can take the initiative to change. He’s been an influence in my life for over 40 years, the older we get the more positive thankfully. In I Thessalonians 5:18, Jesus tells us to give thanks in every circumstance. Sometimes things happen and we don’t know how to find anything to be thankful for, but we can always look at ways that it could have been worse. We’re to give thanks in everything, not for everything. Not many would be thankful for getting a broken arm in a car accident, but we should be thankful that we didn’t get paralyzed or worse in the car accident.

In Philippians 4:4-13, Jesus gives us some great advice on tough times in our lives and how to gain peace in the difficult times. We can bring our troubles, hardships, worries, difficulties, trials, etc. to Him and ask Him for help in dealing with them. If you’re at the end of your rope, turn the situations over to Him and let Him handle them. He’s willing and waiting to give us a peace and to calm our souls if we’re willing to ask Him. If we do that, He will help us and we can start to train ourselves on how to focus on things that will allow us to transform our attitudes and mind to be more thankful for the many things that we have in life to be thankful for and move away from the items that distract us and hinder us from living our lives with joy and peace.

I’m still a work in progress, but I am making strides in seeking what’s ahead and moving from what’s behind. I’d pray that you do that also and learn to be thankful for what God has given you.

GLW
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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-13 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead