Scripture

Psalm 103:2 (New Living Translation)

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Consider

How often do we overlook the good things in our lives because we are always looking for something better?

God showers us with blessings, yet so many of them go unnoticed. He gives us beautiful sunsets, magnificent starry skies, and the reassuring rhythm of night following day and season following season. He gives us bodies that can enjoy tasty foods and sexual pleasure, and hearts and lungs that work ceaselessly for our benefit. And yet we overlook these gifts in our pursuit of whatever we think we need or will make us happy. We narrow our attention on what we don’t have and think ourselves deprived.

The same attitude holds true in our human relationships. Too often we focus on what we aren’t getting from the other person and overlook what we have been given. We wear our disappointment and pique like a waterproof garment that sheds the gentle rain of the other person’s good intentions and keeps us from being refreshed. We judge him not by a fair measure of his faults and virtues but rather by the depth of our needs and desires that are not being met.

You can ease a hurting relationship by the simple exercise of counting your blessings. Without denying the other person’s faults and offenses, allow yourself to remember his good points. What attracted you to this person? How have you benefited from the relationship? What little deeds and services have you taken for granted, as if you deserved them?

Make a list of these good things, and then allow yourself to receive them, to be blessed by them. To receive a blessing refocuses our attention in a kindly way toward the other person and takes away our resentment.

Pray

FATHER, you have blessed me in ways too numerous and wonderful to describe. Help me to receive these blessings with a heart of gratitude and love. Help me also to receive the kindnesses of people around me without my always wishing for more. Help me to let go of my expectations and learn to notice and be thankful for each good deed.

Reflect

1 Corinthians 13:4-5; James 4:2

Share

How can you acknowledge someone’s small service to you today?