HAVING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

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AS WE ENTER INTO THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, ADVENT, AND CHRISTMAS; IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR ATTITIUDES AND HOW THEY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO BE GRATEFUL OR SHALL I SAY DEMONSTRATE GRATITUDE.

            THE YEAR 2020 WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE COIVD-19 PANDEMIC, FOR THE OVER 11 MILLION LIVES AFFECTED BY A DEADLY VIRUS AND OVER 250,000 SOULS LOST DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND THAT IS JUST IN THE UNITED STATES.  DUR THE PANDEMIC WE HAVE HAD TO LEARN NEW NORMS: QUARENTINE, STAYING SIX FEET APART/SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING A MASK, AND TO WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.  WE NO LONGER HUG, SHAKE HANDS, PARTICIPATE IN LARGE GATHERINGS; BUT THAT IS ONLY IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS PANDEMIC IS REAL.
          
  OUR CHILDREN FOR THE MOST PART ATTEND SCHOOL ON-LINE, OUR COMMUNITES HAVE SUFFERED GREATLY DUR TO UNEMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, ISOLATION, AND THE INABILITY TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION HAS INCREASED.

            ACCORDING TO JAMES MOORE IN HIS BOOK: ATTITUDE IS YOUR PAINTBRUSH: IT COLORS EVERY SITUATION; “THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THE GRATEFUL PEOPLE; THE STRONGEST, MOST FULFILLED PEOPLE I KNOW ARE THE THANKFUL PEOPLE.” (p. 10, 1998).

            THE APOSTLE PAUL PUT IT LIKE THIS:” GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:18).  IN EVERYTHING, GIVE THANKS, PAUL SAYS.  IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, GIVE THANKS.  

            THIS PASSAGE IS VERY PERSONAL AS I USED IT IN A EULOGY FOR MY MOM WHO WENT HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD ON 10/23/18.  I REMEMBER CRYING THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE TOUCHED BY THE PRAYERS, THE SONGS AND THE PRESENCE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  WHEN I STOOD UP TO SPEAK MY ATTITUDE WAS ONE OF GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE LOVE I FELT, THE GRATITUDE FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT DURING MY TIME OF BEREAVEMENT.  I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH GRATITUDE AND I KNEW I WAS NOT ALONE.
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            HAVING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE IS INTENTIONAL.  IT TAKES TIME; TIME WITH GOD IN PRAYER, TIME IN GOD’S WORD, AND TIME WITH OTHERS- VIA ZOOM, FACE TIME.  HOWEVER, YOU CAN CONNECT KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE, WE ARE NOT ALONE, AND YES, WE CAN ALL DO BETTER.  VIEW EACH DAY AS A GIFT FROM GOD AND GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, BECAUSE HE IS GOOD, HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING, AND HIS TRUTH ENDURES TO ALL GENERATIONS. (PSALM 100).
                                                                                                REV. DEBORAH WEST-JONES
                                                                                                NOV. 19. 2020