Entertaining your fears can deplete your gratitude …

There’s always something to be grateful to God for, even during times of trials and troubles. But some people focus so much on their fears they struggle with being thankful now.

These people remind me of a story about a cab ride …

A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and gently tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then, the shaking driver said, “Are you OK? I’m so sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me …” The badly shaken passenger apologized to the driver and said, “I didn’t realize that a mere tap on the shoulder would startle someone so badly.”

The driver replied, “No, no, I’m the one who is sorry, it’s entirely my fault, today is my very first day driving a cab. I’ve been driving a hearse for 25 years …”

Some people, who have much to be grateful for, live life with the fear that at any moment there will come an ominous tap on the shoulder and all their fears will suddenly be realized. Living in anticipation of life taking a bad turn can deplete your gratitude for what you have to be thankful for now by fostering a, “Thanks, but …” attitude.

“Thanks, but what if I lose my job?”

“Thanks, but what if the deal doesn’t go through?”

“Thanks, but what if I get sick?”

“Thanks, but what if I don’t heal?”

“Thanks, but …” elevates our fears and stifles our gratitude for what we do have to be thankful for.

When you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this week, will you be reclining at the table with a “Thanks, but …” attitude? Or do you trust God with your concerns about tomorrow, fully thankful for who and what you have now?

Scotty