It was a beautiful fall day; the sun was shining and the air was warm yet crisp. My husband and I had picked up two of our grandchildren for a day at the pumpkin patch. As we arrived at the farm, the grands were greeted by some cute newly born goats. We fed the goats, played on the combine tractor-turned sliding board and took pictures. My grandchildren were smiling and laughing. Everything was perfect. Eventually we made our way to the hayride that we would take up to the field to pick our pumpkins. As we were riding up to the field, my adorable 5-year-old grandson sat next to me holding my hand. My heart was full. He looked up at me with his beautiful blue eyes and said, “Nana…I AM grateful ….BUT…I’ve been to farms that have more stuff.” 

First of all, I thought that was hilarious! Out of the mouths of babes! I could imagine his mom (my daughter) had been working on having an “attitude of gratitude” with him. I could see that good parenting had been happening.  

Second of all, I thought, “Wow! Where do I do that with God?!” That phrase immediately seared into my soul. “Lord, I’m grateful BUT…”  

You have probably heard the saying that when you say “I’m sorry, but…” that it is the same as saying “I’m not sorry and here’s why,”(for example, “I’m sorry that I yelled but you weren’t listening”). I think that this saying applies to our version of “I’m grateful but…” We are basically saying to God, “I’m not really grateful and here’s why.”  

I had to ask myself where I do that with God. Where do I add this caveat with God? Lord, I’m grateful but…

            Lord, I’m grateful for my health, but I’m sick and tired of this pandemic.

            Lord, I’m grateful that I can work from home, but I’m so over the zoom calls.

            Lord, I’m grateful for my husband, but I wish we believed the same things. 

These things boil down to:

Lord, your blessings are incomplete, you don’t give me what I need.

Lord, you are stingy with your blessings because you’re holding back.

According to Merriam-Webster, to be grateful is to be appreciative of benefits received; affording pleasure or contentment. Am I content with what God has given me? Am I always wanting more? We teach our children to be content with what they have been given and yet as adults we always want more.  

We can learn from the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:12-13: “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.” (Read 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 to see what Paul had been through.) Notice there are no “buts” in Paul’s attitude toward God. The source of contentment, of gratefulness if you will, is trusting that God himself meets our needs. The secret is knowing that God is enough.  

In Psalm 37:4, it says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” What many of us don’t realize is that our soul level heart’s desire is to want more of God. What God is giving you in this moment is what you need to know him better IF you turn toward him.  

By the end of the day on the farm with my grandson, he turned to me and said, “Nana, this is the best day ever.”  Embracing our gifts, embracing what we have been given instead of looking at what is lacking is the answer to a grateful heart.  God has given us exactly what we need but perhaps not everything that we want.  

This Thanksgiving season, I challenge you to be content and to be truly grateful for what God has given you! No buts! Be content and thankful for his abundant gifts and especially the gift of his Son Jesus. In Him, we will never be found lacking.  

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. Psalm 107:8-9

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER

Bonnie Kotler loves to laugh and considers laughter as the best medicine. (Psalm 126:2) She is a licensed professional counselor at The Peacemaker Center and has her own private practice, True North Counseling. Bonnie and her husband, Mitch, have two daughters, three sons, five grandchildren, a 125-pound mastiff and three grand-puppies.

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