She sat on the floor. Heavy drapes guarded the window, smothering any light that dared enter. A small lamp shone dimly in the corner. Another lonely day or endless night? She didn't care.

 

"Just going to sit there?" The gentle voice came from a nearby chair.

 

"Doesn't matter. Nothing's going to change."

 

"Not if you refuse to see."

 

"My eyes are open," she snapped, glaring at the chair.

 

"Perhaps, but you do not see."

 

"See what? You know what's going on! There's nothing I can do."

 

"There is one thing. You can be thankful."

 

Drapes swept aside and light rushed into the dark room. The window opened to a brilliant sunny day. Geese crossed an azure sky as children's laughter floated in on a gentle breeze.

 

She gazed at the beauty of the world. She smiled at memories of family and friends, laughter and joy. Slowly, bit by bit, her dreams of tomorrow faded into blessings of today. Then she remembered that through it all---the good and the bad---one had stayed with her, giving her love she could never return. And for the first time in ages, she thanked Him.

 

 

Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18a, ESV)---a verse frequently misused and often misunderstood, especially in anger's rage or sorrow's cry. "I can't believe this happened! It's horrible...terrible. My life is over. And you're telling me I'm supposed to be thankful for it?!"

 

Yeah, that whole "thankful" bit. Awfully hard to be thankful when tragedy strikes and life takes a terrible turn. An angry "Thank you" is not very convincing. And what's all this about being thankful for our circumstances? Ah, therein lies the problem.

 

Careless use of words creates misunderstanding. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stop." "Encourage one or the other." Even small words can have enormous impact. Such as "not". Without it, "Do not put finger in electrical outlet" could have serious consequences.

 

Paul did not tell the Thessalonians to be thankful for everything that happened to them. He never said, "I don't care how bad it gets, give thanks for the pain, the loss, the sorrow." Instead, he taught them to express gratitude IN their circumstances. See the difference?

 

Lonely? God will never leave you. Lost all you own? He will provide all you need. Afraid? He will give you courage. Sick? He has prepared a place without disease and pain. In all circumstances, we can be thankful, clinging not to what we see in this world but to the assurance of what awaits us in the next.

 

Expressing gratitude changes how we see everything. After all, thankfulness is a state of mind, an attitude, a window through which we choose to view life...a window built by a carpenter long ago.