Attitude of Gratitude
by Helen Lesheid
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus??? (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Everyone needs a mentor, a person who models for you the Christian walk. A person you look up to and say, “I’d like to be like her when I’m that age.”
Anna is this person for me. At 81 Anna lives alone in a small one bedroom apartment in a Salvation Army Senior independent living complex. Her husband died six years ago. Because she’s experiencing severe memory loss, Anna has had to give up driving her car.
But Anna has not a shred of self pity. Her face was radiant as she told me, “Glen and I had almost 25 years together.” Then she laughed, “Counting our courting days, it was 25 years. His son, Ron, is so good to me. He looks after all my affairs.”
To the loss of her car she said, “Just think how much money I’m saving by not driving a car.” Then she added, “Besides, walking to the mall does me good. I buy my groceries at Save On, then haul them home in my little cart. And when I can’t walk anymore, I’ll get a scooter.” She was exuberant that the mall also had a vet office, a bank, a beauty salon and several restaurants. “Everything I need is right here,” she said.
To memory loss she quipped, “Good thing I’m methodical and I write everything down. That helps. And I’m taking medication against Alzheimers.” As we talked about the future she expressed absolutely no fear, only a joyous expectancy of heaven.
When I showed her a photo I’d taken of her on my digital camera, she smiled, “Yes, that’s me.” No disparaging remarks about her looks (like I would have made) not even in jest. As far as Anna was concerned life was good and she was making the best of it.
Anna took me out for lunch at a Chinese restaurant within walking distance to her home. She insisted on paying for the meal. “Then let me give the tip,” I said. She agreed and I left a generous tip on the table. Minutes later I heard her say to the girl at the till, “Please add the tip to the bill.” Just like Anna, I thought, to leave a double blessing.
~Dear God, Anna has shown me it’s not age but attitude that makes the difference on living abundantly. Teach me to see my daily blessings. Help me to develop a grateful heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Helen Lescheid. Learn more about Helen: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/helen-lescheid/
Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: Tell us about someone who has been mentoring you. How can we develop a grateful heart like Anna? Have you considered mentoring someone – what steps have you taken?
2. Comment on the devotional blog. Interact with others who are reading today’s devotional. Visit http://talk.thelife.com/ and double click on “Comment??? (just under the devotional title).
3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
4. Related reading: Mentoring in the workplace: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/workplace/mentoringelements.html
Copyright
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16 Responses to “Attitude of Gratitude”
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All of us will be laid off by Dec1. I thank God for I know in advance he has prepared another job for me.
Anna reminds me of my relative who is suffering memory loss due to 3 brain operations caused by anuerysm in the memroy vein . I really pray God will be merciful to her and she may learn to be thankful amidst her circumstances where her husband has abandoned her and remarried and her children hardly visit her . God have mercy .
i thank God for people like Anna, this should remind me never to complain, be thankful that He beautifully made me in his own image
I think its so amazing the wisdom that God gives us with age. I really appreciate what u say about Anna not saying anything negative about her body on seeing the photograph.Its amazing how we can be our biggest enemies and even forget at times that these are Gods temples, His handiwork fearfully and wonderfully made. May God help us as women to understand this truth and to see ourselves the way He sees us and to be grateful.
Thank you Lord for this day I will rejoice and be glad! Karen my prayers are with you my sister. I can’t say that I know what you’re going through, but I can say that I know how you feel. Don’t let the devil still your joy, your peace, nor your happiness. The devil plays with your mind if you let him. Pull yourself together and take a look at all the positive things God has given you. He wakes you up every morning, still in your right frame of mind, blood still running through your vains, and a husband that loves you inspite of what you are going through within yourself. I ask God daily to let me be a blessing to someone else that He may get the glory out of my life. God bless everyone!
Karen your story really touched me. Speaking from someone who lost everything in a divorce including my children be very thankful for your husband. When I read what you wrote I began to cry at the love he is desparately trying to show you in the card and gift.
What an awesome guy you have. The bible asks the men to love their wives, it tells us to respect our husbands.
Sometimes it’s so easy to blame your spouse but I have learned that I had to take responsibility as well.
I thank God for this site. In many ways it mentors me on a regular basis. Thank you for the people you place in our lives that mentor us sometimes even silently by their example. Anna is one of those people.
Dear Father,
Give us grateful hearts that are open to see our many blessings and provisions from you. Thank you. Amen
Yes, a spritual mentor is one of life’s greatest blessings! I met my mentor at Curves, where we both worked out. She came into my life 3 years ago, just as I was about to turn my life over to Christ. She has brought me so far in my walk with the Lord, sometimes I look back and hardly recognize the “old me!” Marcie and I have become best friends, as well as sisters in Christ. Praise God from whom all blessing flow!
What a wonderful life Anna is leading . . . May God bless her and each of us as we try to follow in her footsteps in our walk with the Lord.
Annie
May God show mercy and compassion to all those who call upon His name . May we find ourselves thanking Him amidst all pain , happiness , sickness , financial lack , loss of love one , persecution , imminent danger and certain death in the hands of your enemy . May God grant us abounding grace , mercy , wisdom , discernment , anointing us we find ourselves in the everyday situations we are faced within our families , our workplace , our own individual church and may He just be our portion in heaven to have the strength , peace , still enable us to carry the cross He allows us to bring each moment of our life here on earth . May we be a blessing to all that He allows us to encounter and all that pass our way because we can be also instruments for others to be thankful amidst their predicament . God always be glorified !
Thank-you for reminding me to have an attitude of gratitude. God Bless this website and those participating. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
Thank you Lord that I remembered to Praise Thank You for Your love today and everyday.
I needed to see this story about Anna today. For the past few weeks I have been so unhappy and so sad about life in general that I have forgotten to be grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon me. Instead of seeing the sun I have only dwelled on the rain. This is so evident in my marriage too. My husband tries to pull me out of my depressed state to no avail. I see it taking its toll on him. This morning after he left for work I walked into the kitchen to see a pretty little purple bag with something inside. It was a bottle of my favorite perfume and a lovely card …as I read the card, tears streamed down my face as I looked up to God to ask for forgiveness,..to ask him to return my heart to be forgiving, for being grateful and for changing my attitude..there are things in life I will never be able to change..but that’s okay..I just have to learn to accept them and to know that my God will take care of me..as I read the words my husband wrote about how happy he is and how he remembers the first time we met …it made me sad to think that I fail to sometimes think back to all the wonderful reasons we fell in love in the first place..he said in the card that he will try to be a better husband..but he is the perfect husband already..it is me who is the one who needs to try harder..to focus more on his needs and less on mine…so today as I read the story of Anna, a woman who is so in tune with God in her life and so happy just being who she is, that I made a commitment to God to become more like Anna in my life…to see the pleasure in the simplest things and to appreciate how God is working in my life if I will let him…and to have a talk with my husband and tell him he means more to me than he will ever know…
Wow! How ungrateful I am at times. I get to feeling sorry for myself and have a big pity party. There is always someone in a worse situation, if I just take the time to look.
This devotion touched me, & made me realize how we can be a blessing in ANY situation when we know the Lord as our strength. I for one, have been blessed by God’s providing comfort, therefore, it is my duty to reach out to others who need a helping word. GOD TRULY IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH. Thank you for this encouraging devotion.
Lord, let us all be like Anna in our walk. Lord, let us all praise you and be thankful for whatever we have because of you’re grace.
Lord, help me to be thankful and not bitter about my provision you have given me. Help me to be a woman of God, help me to show and give your grace by the grace you give to me. Help me to be a beacon of light in this world by my attitude and action that, for the non believer, would go directly against what I should be feeling and doing. Help me to be bold and explain why I have peace in a time of personal trial. Help me, through this time spread the gospel of good news to others who are lost. AMEN