Many of you may remember me standing up here twice before on Youth Sunday to do this exact same thing-to try and relay a worthwhile message based on my knowledge and interpretation of the world. Next March, I'm part of the congregation.
This morning I'd like to talk about giving thanks to God-taking the time to realize what you have, and to be truly grateful for what He has given you. In my own life, this has proven to be very difficult to accomplish lately, and being a senior in high school has a lot to do with that. As someone who is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, you tend to get wrapped up in plans of the future. Thoughts of being independent, living with friends, having little responsibilities, and enjoying an important part of life flood your mind. Everything seems to be going in slow motion, and you wonder if the Fall will ever arrive. Well, focusing on colleges, scholarships, high school, and the future in general leaves very little room to take a look around and focus on what's right in front of you. It's difficult to stand back during this time and realize that, however.
A good friend of mine was in a car accident over a year ago. His car hydroplaned and he was hit by an oncoming van, leaving him in intensive care for weeks. He suffered multiple organ damage and a few broken bones, and his family and the people who love him were desperately in fear for his health. He left that hospital to face months of bed rest and home schooling. I can remember crying every time I left his house because of his altered appearance and demeanor. I wondered, How could such a beautiful, wonderful person be hurt in such a way? Who could allow this to happen? Yet, this friend from childhood never stopped smiling. Instead of dwelling on why or how or what he could have done differently, he never lost sight of what was important. He thanked God for giving him life and protecting it. He showed he was grateful by using his family and friends as support to grow strong again. And most importantly, he demonstrated to those around him how precious life really is.
As human beings, we get so wrapped up in ourselves. We go through the motions of every day, never looking up to see the sun rise every morning. We worry about what the next report card will look like, when we're going to get a pay raise, who likes us and who doesn't, or what the latest fashion is... In relationships when people tend to just go their separate ways, we punish ourselves and dwell on what we should have done differently. With all of these thoughts running through a mind on any given day, there is very little room left for anything else, especially happiness. What about the important things? Why can't we stand back after a difficult or heartbreaking event and say, "I'm a good person-I have a family that loves me for who I am, I have friends who admire me, and I'm happy with myself and my life"? Sure, there are always things that will bring us down. But God's purpose for these things is to make us stronger, better people, accepting the things we cannot change. He wants us to always give thanks for the positive things we have in life, no matter how trivial or petty they may seem. For example, I'm thankful for my dog-even though she's incredibly annoying at times and I yell at her, she always comes back to greet me at the door when I come home. On a larger scale, the same goes for my parents and brother and sister, who love me unconditionally. Personally, I have plenty to be thankful for, it's just a matter of taking time to sit back and pay attention. And I know every person has the same... now it's your turn to take a look around and see what really matters in your life.
Amen.
© 1999 Meredith Floyd, all rights reserved
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