16 Aug – Valuing what you have right now!

Today I am lacking the use of my right thumb as I had an operation on it yesterday and it is now covered with a large bulky bandage, protecting a line of stitches. However the thing about thumbs is that we use them for lots of things, which one doesn’t really think about or appreciate until you suddenly can’t or don’t have the use of them.

Which is much like everything else in life; we often don’t appreciate what we have until for some reason it is taken from us. Be that a body part, our health, home, finances, relationships, or freedoms. For some strange reason we all can underestimate and underappreciate what we have been given, usually wasting time bemoaning our lack instead of our blessings, wishing and striving for more whilst ignoring the bounty right in front of us. But in doing so we miss so much of what God has given us in our relationships, in the places we live, in our abilities, skills, our families, and in each and every season of our lives. We can then realise sometimes too late and look back in regret realising our mistake in not making the most of what we had; in not telling people how we felt about them; and in wasting our time and energy on things that really didn’t matter.

So today, take some time to be grateful for what you do have right now, in this moment. Be grateful and honour God for this day; for your life, for your freedom, for the people in it – those still with you and those who have run their earthly race. Take time to appreciate, to not take for granted anything or anyone, to tell people you love them, and to thank God for your life. Because every day is precious, every season is a gift, and God doesn’t want us to take any of it for granted, but to make the most of every opportunity.

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:6)

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Prayer: Lord help me to appreciate what you have blessed me with today and that I would realise the enormity of what I have been given already. Please teach and remind  me to be grateful today. In Jesus name Amen.