My Cup is Overflowing

... give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

My first reaction was anger. I wanted to get my hands on that crazy driver in the Lexus and choke him.

After the initial shock had worn off, I realized how close I'd come to being involved in a nasty accident. Anger immediately gave way to thanks.

Giving thanks isn't always our first reaction in a situation, especially when we focus on what we don't have and what could have happened. I took a different route that day. If I hadn't done so, the car that almost sideswiped me might have hit someone else.

I chose not to dwell on the anger I felt at the carelessness of the other person. Instead, I lifted up my voice and said, "Thank you, God."

If you had been a passenger in my car, you would have witnessed a miracle. If my window had been rolled down, I could have reached out and touched the shiny black metal of the other vehicle. Who knows what other blessings have come from this incident?

If you've heard the stories of individuals who should have been at the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, you know that God's hand was on each one. A pen pal of mine who lives in Canada had an office at the World Trade Center. He would have been there the morning of the attack if he'd not gone to traffic court for a speeding ticket. Everyone who worked in the area of his office died that day.

We can easily give thanks for the times we've survived major trials in life. But what about the small, everyday things we take for granted?

If you could get out of bed by yourself this morning, give thanks. Even if you have aches and pains that make it difficult for you to rise, be thankful for the pain. You're still alive.

The Bible tells us in I Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV), "give thanks in all circumstances." This verse tells us to be thankful in every circumstance. Every circumstance?

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was grateful. Why? Because it was caught early. In every circumstance, give thanks.

If you have a roof over your head, give thanks. Don't focus on what you don't have. Give thanks that you have a warm place to sleep in the winter.

A recent newspaper article reminded me of this. Social workers in a nearly city had been notifying the homeless who camped along the river that their makeshift tents and lean-tos would be dismantled soon. Some of the tent residents had already moved to a shelter, while others were still hanging on to what little they had.

If you have more than enough, give thanks, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day that God has given you. Giving thanks in every circumstance should leave your cup overflowing. Mine is.

Acknowledge the Giver of Blessings. Watch your cup overflow.

Five years+ cancer survivor, Carol Round, writes a weekly faith-based column that can be found in 12 Oklahoma newspapers and one national publication. To learn more about A Matter of Faith, her self-syndicated column, check out her website at www.carolaround.com.

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