GIVE THANKS WHEN IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT

There is an interesting way my Dad dealt with us when we were young. Daddy could stretch out five Naira to you, even though what you needed was far more. He would stretch it out with a smile. Many times, I would just grumble. One day, I stopped grumbling. Whenever he gave less than I asked for, I would say, “Thank you, Daddy. I am really grateful. I know that the same heart that gave me this one will give me what I asked for.” He would laugh and hand over what I asked for. The initial amount became a bonus. 

I have carried this simple lesson into my lifestyle of thanksgiving—there is nothing too small to be grateful for. Jesus demonstrated this kingdom principle when he needed to feed five thousand men, and all that was available were five loaves of bread and two fish. He lifted them in thanksgiving, even though others despised them and called them insignificant.

John 6:8-9,11 NKJV

One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, [9] “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” [11] And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Please make a list of all those “insignificant” things and thank the Lord for them. When it is not working, thank the Lord. When it does not look like it yet, still thank him. 

We had a song we sang back in the days that goes thus: 

The spoon in my home is active and not on leave

The cheap fish did not finish in my soup

The woman who sells cold pap is not chasing me as a debtor

I am grateful. 

Another one says: 

My little hands will lift the Lord up

My little mouth that I use to drink pap

Will lift Jesus up

Do you have a list of small things you need to be grateful for? Bring out the little things, and you will see how weighty they are—thank God you have a mind that can even worry about certain things not being in place. Remember, you have a thinking mind! Thank him.