Choosing Gratitude: 30 Day Challenge: Day 20

Day 20: Gratitude at Home
Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:14-15

It seems that it's often easier to express gratitude for and to people we hardly know, than for and to those in our own family.  Maybe that's because we know our family members so well (and they know us!).  Or it may be that we really do appreciate them, but we've come to take them for granted.

Godly character in every area of our lives will show up within the four walls of our homes.  We can't say we love God if we don't manifest His love to our family members or if we allow bitterness to fester in our hearts toward them.

For the most part, we don't get to choose our family members, as we do our "friends."  Yet we are called to love and care for those in our families, in spite of their personalities, their idiosyncrasies, or their character flaws.  And that's not always easy!

Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother (not hard to be thankful for them).  We don't know much about Timothy's father, but many Bible scholars believe that he was probably not a believer.  He may or may not have been supportive of the faith of his wife and son.  But it was no accident that Timothy grew up in the family he did.  Though it was probably not an "ideal" home situation (what home situation is ideal?!), he still had much in his family for which to be grateful.

Regardless of your family heritage, it's important to realize that your relatives are not the result of "genetic chance," but that you have been placed into the family of God's sovereign choosing for you, and that He wants to use your family--rough edges and all--as a means to sanctify you and conform you into the likeness of His Son.

Embracing that truth will help you cultivate a grateful heart for those who make up your family.

GRATITUDE IN ACTION

1. Today, focus on expressing gratitude for and to your family members.  In your journal, make a list of each member of your immediate family (mate, parents, children, siblings, etc.).  Then next to each name write one quality about their life for which you are particularly grateful.
2. Take time to thank God for each member of the family He has given you.  Then pick one or two individuals from your list to whom you can express gratitude today, in person, by phone, or with a note or email.  You might want to start by saying something like this:

• Today, I thanked God for you.  And I wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you are part of my family, and especially for this particular quality I see in your life... 

(Note: You may want to express gratitude to a family member who has been especially difficult to love.)