31 Days of Repentance – Day 18
By Monica Kritz
Mitchell County
Day 18: Forgive me for not being thankful nor appreciative.
Some of the things that we do not fully appreciate are mind-boggling. Have you ever heard someone gripe about going to the grocery store? When I am in the grocery store, it is very common to hear, “I hate getting groceries! Don’t you?” The more I thought about it, the more it really troubled me. Think about those words: “I hate getting groceries.” What is there to hate? Do you hate that you have food available to buy? Do you hate that you have money to buy groceries? Do you hate that you have the health and strength to walk into a store?
So now, when someone says to me, “Don’t you hate getting groceries?” I actually respond with, “No, I try to be thankful that I have the money to go to a store and that I have food available to buy and that I have the health to go and buy groceries. Some people would just love to be able to get out of bed and go to the store.” Recently, I saw a friend in a local store, who told me she was getting groceries and doing other errands for her parents because they were not physically able. I told her to be thankful that she had the health and strength to do that for them. She stopped…then, walked over to hug me, with tears in her eyes, and said, “You are right!”
Another example of being unthankful is when I have been cooking or cleaning and at the same time, I was grumbling and complaining in my mind that I had to cook or clean. Really? Why was I unthankful? Was I unthankful that I had a house? Was I unthankful that I had electricity to plug in a vacuum cleaner or a mixer or be able to turn on an oven? Was I unthankful for the health and strength to complete these tasks? Was I unthankful for appliances that made my work easier? What a reality check! What a wake-up call! I asked GOD to forgive me. Earlier, I had felt HIS HOLY SPIRIT convicting me of such wrong and blatant attitudes. Once again, HE reminded me that I have a lot for which to be thankful…and I do mean, a lot!
Often I hear our pastor friend pray, “LORD, I appreciate YOU.” I love that…such a genuine respect and thankfulness to GOD. Do you ever tell GOD that you appreciate HIM? Do you ever say “thank you” to those around you?
Colossians 3:15 “…be ye thankful.”
Challenge:
* Practice saying “thank you” to other people, especially those in your own household. Sometimes we tend to overlook those to whom we are the closest. Soon, saying “thank you” will become a habit, and it will come from a genuine heart.
* Tell GOD that you appreciate HIM. Make an acrostic with “G O D”, or write a poem, or write a letter to HIM, telling HIM why you are thankful.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Jason and Monica Henley-Kritz live in the beautiful mountains of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, nestled near the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. Jason is the owner of Joyful Noise Vintage Audio & Electronics, where he repairs, rebuilds and restores vintage electronics. Monica is the owner of Monica’s Music Studio, where she teaches piano and music theory lessons. Jason and Monica were married in 2007, and they give GOD all the glory for any accomplishments in their lives.
Contact Monica with questions about the books or to order hard copies.
Email: monicasmusicstudio@gmail.com
Phone: 1 828 765 8789 ( Leave a message )
______________________________________________________________________________
