Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)
In this season of thankfulness, I wanted to reflect on how perspective can change our heart of complaint and foster a heart of gratitude instead. When we don’t incorporate gratitude into our every day Christian Living, bitterness can quickly move in. And bitterness can stop us dead in our tracks and prevent us from growing spiritually. If you want to come to the full measure of your calling, then you must push bitterness out and embrace gratitude. One way to do that is to change your perspective.
The Place Where An Ungrateful Heart Flourishes
Lately, I have been doing laundry more than usual and I really do not enjoy it. Okay, so in reality, my husband does most of our laundry. Yeah, I am pretty lucky, right? When we were newly married, I would wash and fold both of our clothes. However, he would come home and unfold and refold all his clothes to fit his military style measurements. It was driving me crazy so guess who took over the laundry duties?
Recently, however, my beloved husband has has been working longer hours than usual and to give him a break, I’ve been helping him when I can. But I really do not like doing laundry and I found myself muttering under my breath just how miserable that was for me. It is one of my least favorite chores and I was making sure that my entire invisible audience knew about it.
My heart was ungrateful and I was reveling in it. But God is merciful.
A Changed Perspective is Key to Fostering a Heart of Gratitude
Today, just like that, God reminded me what doing laundry used to be like.
My mind flew back to 1987 or so when I used to do laundry as a kid. I was about 10 years old and my brother was 12. Like any good 1980s city kid, we were both dealt the task of washing our own clothes. No, we were not fortunate enough to walk 30 or 40 feet to our laundry room, because to put it simply, we didn’t have a laundry room!
Nope, my brother and I had the pleasure of walking ourselves and our cart full of our dirty clothes to the laundromat that was several blocks away. Yes, we had to cross that large busy street pictured below known as Western Avenue and I believe the laundromat was located at the corner of that tan building. Once there, the fun really started. We would sit there, wait for several hours until it was done, and then haul it back home. Sometimes our mom would come with us, but many times we had to go by ourselves.
So as I sit here and stare at the pile of laundry that I have to fold, I will do it with a smile on my face. At least, I don’t have to put on my boots and coat and brave the Chicago winter. At least, I do not have to be in a room full of strangers quietly waiting for the buzzer to go off reminding me that it was time to switch my load. There were no such things as iPhones, iPods, or iPads back then. It was just my brother and I keeping each other company wishing we were back home. No. Today, I sit in the comfort of my own home, next to the fireplace, with the TV on. Yes, I will quietly fold away and just be thankful for laundry.
What Are Your Blessings in Disguise?
As you think about your own circumstances, how do you need to change your perspective?
Is there something in your life that seems like a thorn in your side, but it is indeed a blessing a disguise?
Make a list and make it part of your daily prayer life to thank God for even those little blessings in disguise.
Another article on fostering a heart of gratitude that may interest you:
Learning to Appreciate My Husband
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