After my car broke down I started to ride a bicycle to work, (more on that at my other blog). The other day my bicycle had a flat tire; normally I can fix a flat tire but this one kept going flat. After several failures to fix the flat I realized I was not going to make it to work on the bicycle that day, so I rode the bus.
I felt discouraged,
It is depressing that I can't afford to fix the car, I can't even fix a flat tire on my bike. Now to spend money to ride a bus which is taking me a lot longer to get to work, which means I will have to have a tense meeting with my boss to explain my tardiness.
How can I be thankful?
This is such a messed up situation when I am trying hard to do the right thing. I sat on the bus as it wandered around town while it rocked and swayed all over the road; I felt depressed and like a looser. I was anxious that i am taking so long to get to work. I know I should be thankful, it is the right thing to do, and God has given me many blessings, but I felt resentful and frustrated.
I made a decision.
I decided to be thankful even though I didn't feel like it. I looked out the window and thanked God...
* for the blue sky and the dramatic clouds with their whites and grays colliding in floating mountains overhead.
* for the gardens with the many blue, pink and white flowers, arranged carefully.
* for the houses we passed many were beautiful and I prayed for their owners to also be thankful for blessings and to use their blessings for God.
* for the churches I passed, some were modern and some were very old, and I prayed for revival in their congregations.
* for the deer that were walking across the field we passed.
* for the trees that only God can make which grew beside the road.
* for the other passengers on the bus, people God loved and died for. I prayed for their salvation and blessing
* for God's love for me and his forgiveness of my sins by the death of his dear son.
What happened?
When I began to thank God for the things I saw I started to not feel depressed and resentful; instead I began to feel thankful. I began to see life is not about me; but my part is more as being a supporting cast member of God's greater design. I became glad that whatever God wanted for me was OK even if it was to be a long on a bus.
