Thankful for the Right Now

It drives me crazy when my kids aren’t thankful. It really bothers me when they’re already focused on what’s next instead of being thankful for the right now; when they don’t appreciate the belongings they have; when they’re “bored” an hour after a fun outing.

I think it drives me crazy for two reasons. One, it’s so frustrating when you work hard as a parent to provide something fun for the family and then are hit with complaints and discontent. Two—which I think is the main reason it bothers me so much—I see myself in their complaining. When they aren’t satisfied, I see my own struggles with thankfulness and contentment.

I think I’m pretty good at exhibiting thankfulness for the “big” stuff—health, family, friends, provisions—but I struggle with being content with what I have.

My main trigger? I hate my house. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a perfectly fine house, but I’ve always felt like it should be a little more. It’s not my ideal home. I’ve never been fully satisfied with it since the first day we moved in. We moved during a tough time in our lives, so in some ways, this house is associated with bad memories. Also, it was supposed to be a temporary stop, maybe a year or two, on the way to the house we really wanted. Eleven years later, we’re still here.

The house suits our needs just fine; the floor plan and location work for our family. Cosmetically, however, it’s not what I wanted. We settled for it only because it suited our needs. We have no granite countertops or hardwood floors; nothing about it is uniquely quirky or cool. Our quirks are limited to plumbing problems and a fickle air conditioning unit. Every time something goes wrong with it—something breaks, new stains on the carpet—my refrain has been, “I hate this house.”

When I look back over my litany of complaints, I feel ashamed at how superficial I’ve sounded and the evidence of where my focus has lain—definitely in the wrong place.

When I zero in on why I hate this house or how it doesn’t live up to my expectations, I’m forgetting the blessing of how it was available at the perfect time and had the exact number of bedrooms we needed plus a bonus bathroom. I’m forgetting about the good neighbors we have; about how our neighborhood is filled with kids of all ages who play together for hours. I forget how the house itself doesn’t really matter; home should be wherever our family is together.

Focusing on material things will always lead to discontent. Jesus often warned about the dangers of allowing possessions to rule our lives. Luke 12:15 (NIV) says, “He said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’” Later, John reminds believers of the danger of making possessions their focus: “Everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:16–17 NIV).

The Lord commands us to be thankful. When we’re thankful first, our focus is in the right spot. What the Lord commands us to do is always good for us. When we put our hope in and seek happiness from material things, we’ll always be let down. They can be destroyed and corrupted. Then something else we want will promise to make us feel complete, content, and happy. However, friend, only the Lord can do that. He is our all-in-all, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He’s the only thing that can satisfy that yearning in our hearts and bring total fulfillment.

It’s as simple as this: The world will always let us down. The Lord will never let us down. It’s easy to be distracted from our main purpose, to love God and love people. (Loving things is not on the list.)

The Bible tells us in many places to thank the Lord for blessings, the main ones his grace and forgiveness, and to be content in whatever situation. Paul wrote these words from prison: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:12–13 NIV).

He expressed how he was content in prison. In a first-century prison. First-century prisons were not known for their hospitality, that’s for sure. Ancient Rome wasn’t making sure its subjects, especially those they deemed a threat to the government, were comfortable and content. Yet in squalid and probably frightening conditions, Paul was content. This contentment was all from the power of the Lord.

We don’t live in ancient Roman times. The threat of being arrested for our faith in America is non-existent. However, rather than feel guilty for our “first world problems,” we should seize opportunities in our day-to-day lives to live out the gospel. We need to let others see our Lord through our actions. For me, that begins with being a good example for my children, and with being more intentional about showing gratitude and contentment.

So instead of complaining again about how this is not the house I wanted, I should show thankfulness for the Lord giving us stability for the last seven years. Instead of yearning for more material items, I should exemplify yearning for the Lord and the fulfillment he brings.

Being content in all circumstances is more than spouting Pollyanna-esque platitudes, because, quite honestly, some circumstances suck. Even in the hard places, we should be content. I know this is far easier said than done, but when we try to rely on our own strength in the hard places, it will fail us. We must cling to the Lord and let him guide us through every situation in life.

Let’s try first and foremost, in whatever our situations and circumstances, to give thanks to the Lord for his grace and mercy, which give us hope beyond this crumbling, material world.

Dana Herndon is a writer, blogger, and middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, paddle board, and sometimes run. She blogs about faith, family, and enjoying the everyday life at danaherndon.com.