Cultivate a Crop of Thankfulness
The curved metal prongs dragged through the ground behind the tractor, slicing through the dirt and ripping up weeds that threatened to choke the life out of the plants. The task was threefold: kill the weeds, place good soil on top of the rows, and allow the air to penetrate the soil and promote good growth.
The cultivating of the fields reminded me of the state of my own heart. Lately, I’d noticed my spirit of thankfulness slipping away. With the stress of the farm and the pressure to produce a healthy crop despite torrential storms, my focus wavered. Anxiety settled around my heart, threatening to choke any semblance of gratefulness left. Grateful for what? I wondered. The floating fields?
Like our fields on the farm, a good crop of thankfulness doesn’t grow naturally. It takes grueling work and strong effort to produce a healthy crop of corn, and my heart was no different. It was time for a major overhaul, a cultivation of the heart.
Because I’d resisted considering the rain might be a blessing in disguise, I’d ruined an opportunity to trust God in all things. My thoughts lay as low as the valleys of water between each row of corn.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul said, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (NIV).
It seems so simple to think on what is excellent and praiseworthy. Yet when we find ourselves in unpleasant situations, it’s easier to vent our frustrations and forget to choose thankfulness as we’re encouraged to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (NIV).
If you’re like me, the more you allow your circumstances to determine your outlook, the more you dwell on negativity and selfishness. I forgot to give thanks in all circumstances. The weather affected my attitude, but then I determined to think on “such things” as Paul listed in Philippians.
The time came to replace the weeds of my selfish heart and cultivate a crop of thankfulness. I needed to think on good things and aerate my heart soil. We’re warned to guard our hearts above all else because everything we do flows from them (Prov. 4:23). What we set our minds on settles in our hearts and flows out of our mouths. If we choose to think on whatever is deceitful, dishonorable, wrong, impure, then we can be sure those thoughts settle in our hearts. Our lips give away the condition of our hearts and minds when we utter grievances and complaints.
What we set our minds on settles in our hearts and flows out of our mouths.
That’s the quickest way to kill a crop of thankfulness.
When we have a negative perspective, selfishness abounds. But when we choose to think positively and think on “these things,” a grateful heart emerges.
Are you looking for ways to cultivate a crop of thankfulness? Consider keeping a journal and pen with you to jot down what you’re thankful for—family, friends, church, and so on. Don’t think too hard. Thankful for that newly refurbished dining room table and bench that allows even more friends and family to join your meals? Write it down. Thankful for the pile of dirty dishes in the sink, proof of the Lord’s provision for your family? Write it down.
The more we choose to count our blessings, the easier it is to be thankful to the Lord for what he’s done in our lives and continues to do. Will you count your blessings today?
Amanda Wells is the proud wife of a smokin’ hot third generation farmer, and they have taken Psalm 127:5 literally, raising their quiverful of six kids on the farm. She loves baking, reading, writing, and arithmetic (kidding!). Amanda writes about faith, homeschooling on the farm, and family life at farmwyfe.com.
Photograph © Allef Vinicius, used with permission
