My heart goes out to the Filipino people since the typhoon that devastated their island. I cannot begin to understand their heartache and sorrow at the loss of life and the destruction of everything precious to them. Not to mention, their struggle just to survive; to provide their families with the most basic of necessities – food, water, shelter, and safety.
And then I thought about those still recovering from Hurricane Sandy and those still displaced after Hurricane Katrina; the tornado ravished communities and the parents who may never recover from the untimely deaths of their children, who’ve been gunned down at school or a movie theater. Then there’s those still grieving from terrorist attacks that took the life of a loved one – Oklahoma City, the Twin Towers, the Boston Marathon, subway bombings, just to name a few. And everyone reading this can probably recall half a dozen incidents (or more) that I didn’t mention.
I live in an area that sees tornadoes every now and then. Several years ago, my youngest daughter, who’s been diagnosed with a genetic disorder known as Williams syndrome, begged me to move our family away – to an area that’s never hit by tornadoes. I said, “Michelle, there is no place in the entire world that’s not affected by some type of natural disaster. If it’s not tornadoes, it would be hurricanes or earthquakes or blizzards or sand storms or tsunamis. So we’ll just stay here. It’s as safe as anywhere else in the world.”
Living in Ohio, hurricanes don’t affect us too much. Sometimes, we’ll feel the remnants of a hurricane through a rain shower, or it may be a little windier than usual. Yet, in 2008, Hurricane Ike hit Texas so hard that the wind swept across a number of states, reaching all the way to the Great Lakes, and knocked out our power for several days. That happened in mid September where the temperature was comfortable – not hot or cold. It was an inconvenience, but we hardly suffered as a result. But last year Indiana, right next door, got hit with a tornado that killed quite a few people and wiped out an entire town.
Communities, cities, and whole islands have been drastically affected by both natural and man-made disasters. Thousands of people world-wide have suffered as a result. What about those of us who have barely been touched by such tragedy? Do we appreciate our warm homes, comfortable beds, clean drinking water, and tasty food? Or do we complain because finances are tight, the price of gas is too high, or the cost of living is going up but not my retirement check.
It’s impossible to seriously consider the devastation that’s surrounding the Filipino people at this moment, and not recognize the blessings of God on my life. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” That means in all circumstances – tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, etc. If God expects us to give thanks in the midst of the most horrendous situations, how much more does He require it from those not affected by such disasters.
Luke 2:48 says, “…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…”
We have so much to be thankful for, and we appreciate so little of it. The next natural disaster or terrorist attack could hit home. Let’s return to an attitude of gratitude. We need to appreciate those around us and be thankful for our daily blessings because it could all be gone in the blink of an eye.