Be Thankful

Be Thankful


Ephesians 5:20

“Giving thanks always for all things…”

I have heard this passage quoted mucho mas (a lot)! And, sad to say, much of the time it was interpreted incorrectly. Let me give you a few examples: “Thank you Jesus for breaking my arm!” Or “I am thankful for the painful divorce I am going through!” These are a couple of illustrations of how people have missed the point. I myself wrestled with this passage and the misguided interpretations I was given. There was just no way could I be thankful for something that brought me harm or intense personal pain. I felt that by saying “thank you” for my pain, hurt, loss or whatever, I was acknowledging that God was the author of it. I just could not wrap my head around the whole idea of God sending pain into my life. I could not believe that God would intentionally hurt me or anyone else just to teach us to be thankful. And, when I questioned people about this, I was told not to ask why or question God, just accept what He has sent. Fortunately, I learned that God is not the author of pain in my life. I discovered that he takes no pleasure in seeing me suffer. And, He is not afraid or intimidated by my questions. So, what did Paul the Apostle mean when he penned the words “giving thanks for all things”?

I believe Paul was stating that thankfulness is a life style. It is something that we should intentionally practice each and every day. Thankfulness should flow out of us and touch every aspect of our lives. You see, thankfulness starts on the inside and is not reactionary to external stimuli! Thankfulness is not something I demonstrate only when triggered it into action. It is a way of life! That no matter what is going on around me; I have a well of thankfulness I can draw from. Drinking from this well, I am refreshed when the heat is on! Am I thankful for the pain of breaking my arm? No. Am I thankful for the deep emotional hurt of a divorce? No. My thankfulness is demonstrated by me not allowing these painful life experiences to affect me. And, I can be thankful for God’s help, guidance and protection through the difficulties of life.

So, what can a person do to dig a deep well of thankfulness?

1. When you wake up every morning say “thank you” over and over again. This will get your mind and spirit moving in the right direction. Make this a practice throughout the day. Understand that thankfulness must be cultivated and maintained daily!!

2. When faced with problems, instead of asking “why is this happening to me?”, rather ask “what can I learn from this?” The way you view the problems of life will either make you bitter or better.

3. Understand that you have a choice. You are not the helpless victim of circumstances beyond your control. Make the effort to build up your internal person (the real you) to withstand the storms of life. You may not be able to change the wind, but you can change your sails!

Starting today; make faithfulness a way of life. By doing so you will discover that you have more joy, attract better people into your life and will b e a source of encouragement to others.

That's the way it's suppose to be?

Elroy McConnell II and his family went on a much needed family to beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida.  McConnell, the father of three sons, Elroy III, Nathan and Kelly.  Elroy had arrived from Louisiana with his wife and their just months old son Elroy IV. McConnell wrote on his Facebook page; "They're all really great and unconditionally supportive."  That was on the afternoon of Saturday July 31, 2010.  Sometime that evening McConnell and his three sons went for a guys night out to see the movie Predator.  They never returned.

Around midnight at the corner of Martin Luther King and 22nd Avenue, McConnell was traveling was bound on 22nd avenue when a south bound Chevy Impala, driven by Demetrius Jordan, blew through the intersection at a high rate of speed. The impact of the collision sent the Ford Fusion being driven by McConnell crashing into the sign of the corner Seven Eleven. All four of the McConnell's were pronounced dead at the scene.

Demetrius Jordan, 20, is the second of of four children.  He graduated from St. Petersburg High School  where he played on the marching band drum line and even gave drum lesson to children at Mount Zion Progressive Missionary baptist Church. A college student with no criminal record and described as a quiet and humble man.  He had a life of potential and promise. Now he is facing four counts of manslaughter and his life is in ruins.

I cannot even begin to feel or understand the great sense of loss the McConnell family has experienced.  No way I would even want to feel that.  I am angered by the results of Demetrius Jordan's poor choice to drink and drive. Personally, I feel drunk drivers get off way to easy.  It always seems they can walk away unscathed while the Innocent are carted off draped with a sheet. Personally, I can understand the anger that would want a person to lash out in retaliation to the person or persons who inflicted such loss.  But, that will not right anything that has happened and will not change what has been done. 

And, what about Demetrius Jordan?  A young man of promise and potential.  Now facing unimaginable problems.  There is no way I could even begin to feel what he is going through right now.  He no longer wears a marching band uniform, but a prison jumpsuit. He will not be living in the college dorm, but in a cell block.  He will not be attending college with his friends but will be living in a correctional facility.  He will wear the label of convicted felon for the rest of his life. 

There is no way anyone can tell me that this was suppose to be.  There is no way anyone can tell me that this was fate.  There is no way anyone could tell me that "it was their time".  That is just plain lunacy!! What kind of sick twisted world do people who believe that kind of stupidity live in?  They will try to tell me that it was God's will.  God's will?  What kind of screwed up God to they worship?  This situation had nothing to do with God.  It had everything to do with a choices.  A young man with potential and promise climbed into a car and chose to drive under the influence of alcohol.  That one bad choice set into motion of chain of events that ruined the lives of the McConnell family members, his family, and his own life. 

No.  This was not the way it was suppose to be.  This was not God's will.  This was not fate and wasn't the way it was suppose to be! So, if this event teaches us anything, it is this: your choices not only affect you, they affect others as well.  Four men are dead and three women widowed by a choice made by a stranger.  A family now must now cope with seeing their son in prison and dealing with the public outcry he has caused. Communities, churches, college campuses, and places of business will now feel the loss caused by a bad choice.  Never believe that your life is your own and what you do doesn't affect anyone else.  Don't live your life that way.  Because that is not the way it is suppose to be.