My sister Susan married Mark Breckenridge on April 5 of this year and I was privileged to be able to attend the wedding. Having lived in a third world country for almost two years gave me a fresh perspective on American living. How great to go to Wal-Mart and find so much in one place! To have electricity 24/7!! And good roads with traffic lights!! To know that the police are my friends!! And that church will start on time and not go over three hours!!!
Of course, the homes and cars and lawns and lakes and stuff were beautiful. Someone asked me, "Do you find yourself wishing we didn't have so much?"
I thought about that and my answer is truthfully, no, I don't wish that at all; but I do wish that people would be more thankful and fully appreciate how blessed they are and how much God has given them.
I know about myself that in times of suffering I draw very close to God and depend on Him for every moment's grace; but when things are good I tend to go on auto-pilot spiritually. This tendency has really bothered me in the last year and with prayer, I found out how not to let that happen: by being thankful.
Africans are thankful. They have so much less than Americans. Yet you will never hear them complain about their job, instead the proper response to "How is work" is "Thank God." Thank God I have work, thank God I have the strength to work. A Sunday rarely goes by that Reverend Iwuji fails to thank God that "He has brought us alive to see this day, because many who began this year are no longer with us." You will not hear them complain about their house or clothes or car, instead if they have a car they are very grateful (and would be ashamed to complain, considering how many are walking or depending on motorcycle taxis), if they have clothes and a home they are thankful.
I wish Americans realized how much they have and gave thanks for it. "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness. " Ps 107:8,9
