By Rev. Dan Williams
It seems that the older I get the more I think of things for which I am thankful. But that is not because life gets easier with fewer struggles as we age—the reality is quite the opposite. The practice of willfully giving thanks daily, even when life is hard, can help us cope with adversity as a kind of natural antidepressant. This is why God states in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
There is always something to be thankful for, even in the worst of circumstances. The greatest example of this is when Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, were imprisoned in Ravensbrück Camp during WWII for hiding Jews. The sisters were together in a women’s labor camp and subjected to harsh conditions and brutal treatment by the Nazi guards. While trying to lead other women in prayer and teaching in their flea-infested barracks one day, Betsie thanked God for the fleas, much to Corrie’s objection. Betsie thanked God for the fleas because they were so bad that the prison guards would not come into the barracks. They had greater freedom to pray, worship, and encourage others, and Betsie was willfully thanking God for something unpleasant because it allowed for something better.
Giving thanks in bad circumstances may not change a predicament we encounter, but it will always change our perspective of the problem. A willful attitude of gratefulness is a manifestation of an inner optimism that will attract others. A thankful person will not be a lonely person; people naturally want to be around people who are positive and can see the silver lining on every dark cloud.
Can an entire community be grateful for something? You may have heard about the monument to the Boll Weevil in Enterprise, Alabama. From 1915-1918 the infestation of Boll Weevils decimated the cotton crop of every farmer in Coffee County. In 1916 the farmers agreed to begin converting their crops to peanuts. It became such a boom to the economy that in 1919 a statue of a Boll Weevil bug was erected on the town square.
I remember the tornadoes that touched Lexington County on August 16, 1994. Spurned from Tropical Storm Beryl, the system caused $50 million dollars of damage but did not result in any fatalities. Neighbors had opportunity to get acquainted as everyone pitched in to help while giving thanks to God for no loss of life and blessings along the road to recovery. Make it a practice to start each day thinking of three things for which you are thankful. Right now, I am thankful for my wife, my health, and the wonderful county of Lexington!
