I read something that it takes about 21 days for something to become a habit. This refers to good or bad habits – 21 days.
I wrote on “Being Thankful” on July 10th, and I think I started my list around then – stopping each day and making a note of one thing that I am thankful for. In the process I have gained an accountability partner. Some days I don’t feel like doing it for whatever reason, and my friend sends me her list – and then I’m reminded that I need to find something to be thankful for. There are days where she gets busy, and can’t see what she has to be thankful for, and I provide her with the same reminder. It’s being accountable to each other that has kept our commitment going for the past 40 days, with very few missed days in between. I recently asked her if we should stop writing our list and she told me “no, let’s continue until we can’t find anything else”. That’s yet to happen. Some days, we just have to dig a little deeper to see what we have to be thankful for, and boy, those are usually the best one.
Today, after she sent me her note, and how humbled I was by hers, I went to write mine, and I realized how much I had to scroll through just to get to the next line. That in itself has been amazing to me. In 40 days, I have had so much to be thankful for – sometimes it’s something big – sometimes it’s not – and it’s just that I was able to stop what I was doing for a moment to be thankful for what God had done and is doing in my life, and how He has been growing my faith by leaps and bounds. But in everything, I am learning to give thanks.
What are you thankful for today? Write it down. Are you in a funky mood? Don’t let it over take you – stop and think what you have to be thankful for, and write it down. The reason I say to write it down is sometimes our memory bank isn’t what it used to be and while we may think we’ll remember it the next day – something happens that takes away our peace and joy and we forgot what we had to be thankful for just the day before. So, my suggestion to you today, stop and write down what you are thankful for in this moment. And when the funky mood threatens to overtake you – go back to your list and reread it. You’ll be surprised how your perspective changes.
Dear Lord, Thank You for all that I have to be thankful for. Even in life’s simplicity and complexities, you provide for me, and for that I am thankful.