NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Thank you God

Oprah Winfrey

I live in the space of thankfulness - and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased.

That's because what you focus on.... expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.

Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.

"Say thank you!" Those words from my friend and mentor Maya Angelou turned my life around.

One day about ten years ago, I was sitting in my bathroom with the door closed and the toilet lid down, booing and a hooing on the phone so uncontrollably that I was incoherent.

"Stop it! Stop it right now and say thank you!" Maya chided.
"But - you don't understand," I sobbed.
To this day, I can't remember what it was that had me so far gone, which only proves the point Maya was trying to make. "I do understand," she told me. "I want to hear you say it now. Out loud ."

"Thank you.'" Tentatively, I repeated it:
"Thank you - but what am I saying thank you for?"

"You're saying thank you," Maya said, "because your faith is so strong that you don't doubt that whatever the problem, you'll get through it.

You're saying thank you because you know that even in the eye of the storm, God has put a rainbow in the clouds.

You're saying thank you because you know there's no problem created that can compare to the Creator of all things.

"Say thank you!"

So I did - and still do. Only now I do it every day. I kept a gratitude journal, as Sarah Ban Breathnach suggests in Simple Abundance; list at least five things that I'm grateful for.

My list includes small pleasures: the feel of Kentucky bluegrass under my feet (like damp silk); a walk in the woods with all nine of my dogs and my cocker spaniel Sophie trying to keep up; cooking fried green tomatoes with Stedman and eating them while they're hot; reading a good book and knowing another awaits.

My thank-you list also includes things too important to take for granted: an "okay" mammogram, friends who love me, 25 years at the same job (and loving it more than the first day I started), a chance to share my vision for a better life, staying centered, having financial security.

I won't kid you, having money for all the things I want is a blessing. But as I look back over my journals, which I've kept since I was 15 years old, 99 per cent of what brought me real joy had nothing to do with money. (It had a lot to do with food, however.)

It's not easy being grateful all the time. But it's when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you:

PERSPECTIVE: Just knowing you have that daily list to complete allows you to look at your day differently, with an awareness of every sweet gesture and kind thought passed your way. When you learn to say thank you, you see the world anew.

And as Meister Eckhart so eloquently stated: "If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is 'Thank you God', that would suffice."

Have a safe and blessed day!

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

I thank God for sparing my life to date despite the extreme wickedness and evil deeds of some of our fellow human beings.

I also thank Him for all the good and compassionate people whom He raised to support me in my time of travails and adversity.

I'm also thankful for His giftings and the opportunity to share them, so that His glory is revealed through me, regardless of whether it's through my writings or other giftings.
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

I thank God for.....

I thank God for the few loyal and faithful family and friends who stood steadfastly by me during my darkest hours of need. May God sherpherd them always, that they may fear no evil. May He also richly reward their kindenss, humanity, love and compassion.

I also thank God for all those who abandoned, rejected and unduly criticized and gossiped about me during those extremely dark hours, especially those whom I'd previously stood by and prayed for, because they sharpened my perception and gave me a better insight so I was better enabled to see them for whom they truly are.

I have learnt that "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint" [Prov. 25:19]; that "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of the enemy are deceitful." [Prov. 27:6] and that "Better is a dinner of herbs where [true] love is, than a fatted calf with hatred." [Prov. 15:17]

Cxsm
6/22/08
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

Editor · Site Admin Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 142

I thank God for a successful surgery and good recovery.
I thank God for angel he sent as a friend when I was incapcitated n direly needed help.
I thank God for the family n friends who have encouraged n supported me to date.May God bles them.
I thank God for inner peace.
I also thank God for abundance in time of farmine.

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

I thank God for His many graces in life. Most especially for keeping me alive to witness each new day. Life has presented so many difficult challenges for over 10 yrs now, but despite the accidents, injuries and spiritual warfares, I'm a living proof that God is gracious and He must have a very good purpose for keeping me alive.

I'm also grateful for all the family, friends and strangers who have been there for me, while others chose to bail; as well as for those who thought they could break me but only ended up strengthening me.

My thanksgiving is daily and for my family, health, life and future I thank God and all those who have contributed to my wellbeing.

_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm