Hi, this is Joni Eareckson Tada with an attitude of gratitude.
But I tell you what, that attitude hasn't blossomed overnight. Thanking God may be something that comes somewhat supernaturally to me now, but it wasn't always that way. I recall one day back on the Maryland farm when I was still new to my wheelchair – my sister had parked me in my chair next to the big bay window that overlooked the pasture. I was sitting there struggling, wanting to be on my feet, wanting so much to be on the outside – going to the barn, feeding the horses, saddling up and horseback riding. What can I say, I was feeling sorry for myself.
But that was also a time when I knew that daydreaming about such things for too long would only make my attitude worse. I'd had enough of depression when I was back in the hospital, and I did not want to go down that dark, grim path to despair again. So sitting there by the window, I remember praying a prayer that went something like: "Jesus, my attitude is like a stubborn horse that doesn’t want to be saddled up and led out of the barn. My attitude is so stiff-necked and obstinate – but I am not going to allow it to dig in its heels. My spirit – the spirit that lives inside me – wants to do what’s right, so I'm putting spurs on my spirit today and I'm going to goad my attitude out of the barn, into the light of day, and down a path to gratitude. My feelings don’t want to go there; I’d rather stay in my stall, I’d rather feel sorry for myself. But like a stubborn horse with a bit in its mouth, and with a saddle on its back, man I'm going to whip my feelings in the right direction. And as I do, please, Jesus, Jesus, give me a grateful attitude. Help me not only do, but to feel the right thing!
Now I know it was an odd metaphor to use, but for me, a horsewoman, it reflected exactly where I was at, with language I could relate to, and an outcome that I understood. I didn’t want that dark-grim path… I wanted God to shed His light on a new path: a path toward health and healing and dare I say, even happiness. And you know what? God did it! God changed those feelings and gave me an attitude of gratitude. No one else could have changed an attitude like that – it had to be me in partnership with the Holy Spirit. It’s the same way in the book of Leviticus. It says there that thank offerings must be carried by the person himself; it’s not something that can be “delegated” to someone else. I'm sure that’s because God wants to see us, us, pour personal effort into the thank offering – it shows Him our sincerity.
May I ask you about your attitude today? Does thankfulness come easy, or do you find yourself most often going down that dark path to depression and despair? Well, friend, it just may be time to spur your emotions in the right direction. II Corinthians 4:15 says that, "All of this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause [now here it comes] thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God." Basically, that verse is saying that when you cultivate an attitude of gratitude, it causes others to be thankful. As a friend of mine often says, “We can actually become thanks-makers.” So, make your own heart give thanks… and make others do the same, all of it overflowing to the glory of God. By the way, today is your last day to ask for the CD of the message I gave last year at the National Day of Prayer. Just ask for it on my radio page here at joniandfriends.org. Finally, I leave with you Psalm 116:17 which says, “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.”
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
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