New Year Gratitude

Click "Play" to Listen to a Minute about the Gratitude we choose to teach our boys!
Or click here to download the mp3.


So many people are negative on 2016.  I fear that we are bordering on being ungrateful for the many blessings God has given us in this year and being ungrateful to God is a dangerous place to be in life.  Why don't we model an attitude of gratitude for our children because of all the "New Hope" born in 2016 instead?

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:15

Click for Carrie's Biography.

Click for Daisy's Biography.

Can I muse just a little more than my allotted minute about the current attitudes I see?  The previous year did have some hurts, stings, misfires, and mournings.  

Yes, spend an appropriate amount of time to lament those losses that affect you.  Yet I see several on social media (even Christians) who have given up the entire year as a loss calling it "the worst year ever," which is the attitude I fear that is going to have a negative affect on us longterm.   Seriously, who knows what Star Wars episode XIV heroine, future United States female president, or outstanding musician was born this year?  Consider this for a moment, was anyone celebrating at the end of 1956 because Carrie Fisher was born?  No, those who let their attitudes be dominated by ungratefulness were probably lamenting that actress Ruth Draper died on December 30th, not knowing that God had given a wonderfully inspiring actress that year in Ruth's place.  Did anyone get excited that Daisy Ridley who played "Rey" in "The Force Awakens" was born in 1992?  Likely, no one but her family did.  Consider that Daisy had the most prominent female role in a Star Wars film to date, and she knocked that role out of the park!  Yet in 1992, most weren't celebrating her birth, but may have been throwing the baby out with the 1992 bathwater because actress Marlene Dietrich passed away.  

My daughter, Clara, was born in 2016, maybe she'll
play a lead role in a Star Wars movie! 

In 2014 there were nearly 4 million children born in the United States.  Assuming we reach that figure in 2016, who knows what goodness was born in the year that we are drawing to a close? Our Clara Afton was born after all!

If we don't strive to change our negative attitude before 2017, then when the first major trial or death of 2017 comes along, we will be tempted to give the new year up as a loss too.  Carrie Fisher's first big movie at 19 years old was, "A New Hope" which carried a major theme about focusing on the positive opportunities ahead.  Rather than be so negative on 2016, let's consider all the New Hopes born in the year.  So let's be grateful for the all hope born in 2016 AND look forward to new hopes to be born next year too.  Just try to be thankful. You'll be glad you did!

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:15

Click to go to Ruth's Biography.

Message Minutes are sponsored by  Washington Church of Christ and recorded for the public 107.9 The Memories WAMW morning radio program.  They air at approximately 7:35am on Weekday Mornings.
To find more of the Message Minutes that have been uploaded to this blog CLICK HERE.