While I write this approximately 280 teachers are gathered on WCPC’s campus for a We Care Early Childhood Conference being hosted this year by our own Early Learning Program.  As most of you are aware a good number of those in attendance aren’t as comfortable as we would like because the air conditioner in the Christian Education building is being repaired.  Thankfully because of several responses to my email last night the building is a lot cooler this morning than it would be otherwise. 

Most of the time we take air conditioning for granted, until of course, it breaks down.  There’s a lot we take for granted.  We take for granted the freedom that we have in this country to worship.  There are many places where such freedom either doesn’t exist or it’s extremely restricted.  We take for granted that, though we might be paying more for gasoline right now than we would like, still we can travel great distances in our cars, or when needed, catch a plane.  There are many, many people living in our world today who travel only by foot.  They don’t have to worry about the price of gasoline because they don’t have cars.  We take for granted the food that we eat.  We assume it will always be readily available to us, in grocery stores or on the menu in our favorite restaurant.  It probably wouldn’t surprise you to know that many people in our world today live from day to day, uncertain where the next meal is coming from.  Sadly some of them even live in  this country.

I could go on, with things we take for granted, but my hunch is, you get the picture.  Gratitude, from what I’ve experienced and seen, is one of the healthiest emotions we can exhibit.  Gratitude for the blessings that flow into our lives, which often, go unnoted by us until we don’t have them anymore. 

I have a challenge for you.  Instead of allowing our prayer concerns to dominate our daily time with God, let’s allow our praise to God and thanksgiving for the blessings that are so abundant to take center stage.  God certainly wants to know what’s on our hearts, but like any parent, God also wouldn’t mind hearing a word of appreciation or thanks every now and then.   

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  (Colossians 3: 15 – 18)

Your pastor,

David Jones