In case you missed this, here’s a video that was released by the three women who had been held captive in Cleveland for almost 10 years. Watch this, especially starting at the 1:55 mark:
I heard this clip on the radio on my way to Canton this morning. At the time, I was frustrated because I was following a semi going well under the speed limit, and I knew I had a lot to do this morning and not a lot of time to do it, so I was getting angry about running behind.
If I’m not careful, my outlook often shifts towards worrying or complaining about my present situation. That’s human nature, I think. We are, by nature, self-centered beings. That’s what sin has done to mankind. So we focus less on what we have to be thankful for, and more on what we want. We don’t notice the needs of others, and instead we think about our own wants and desires. These things consume us, and drive us to a negative outlook on life.
Hearing that clip of her statement on the radio today was like a sucker punch in the gut. It was a reality check. I don’t have anything to complain about or feel sorry for myself over. I need to focus on expressing gratitude for the good things I’m blessed with in life. As 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, I should “be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will…”
What are you complaining about today? I challenge you to listen to that (or maybe you already have, so listen to it again) and ask yourself what you really have to complain about. Today I’m focusing on making my attitude more like hers.
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Want to read more about gratitude and contentment? Check out my recent post called “Lord of the Fleas.”
