One afternoon, I ran my fourteen-year-old son to a craft store to pick up something he needed for a project that he was working on. Toby ran into the store, and I waited in the car. A siren caught my attention and I glanced over at the main road, watching an ambulance zip by as it headed toward the nearby hospital.
Immediately, my mind shifted to the goodness of God, and I promptly thanked Him that I’d never had need for an ambulance or the fire department or the police. A few years later, due to some of the challenges I faced with Michelle, the rescue personnel seemed to be at my door just about every week. And we nearly lost her when she overdosed on my husband’s blood pressure medication. However, at this particular time, life was good, serene, quiet.
As I watched that ambulance race toward the hospital, God reminded me of how much I’d taken for granted. When you take something for granted, you’re not thankful for it, and ingratitude is a sin. I suddenly realized how ungrateful I’d been for God’s tremendous blessings on my life. I didn’t mean to be ungrateful; but life was good, so I inadvertently took all those good things for granted.
I said a little prayer right there in the car while I was waiting for my son. I said, “Lord, make me a thankful person.” That happened 19 years ago. And God did not change me. He opened my eyes to see the wondrous things He’s done for me each and every day; all the blessings in my life and the things for which I have to be thankful. Do I still take things for granted? Sometimes. But God continues to answer that prayer by showing me His goodness day after day. Yet, I wonder how much God’s done for me that I’m not even aware of and that I won’t recognize until I see Him in eternity.