Grateful for Fleas?

Most mornings, I rise up fairly early and spend some alone time.  I read (usually the Bible), I listen to Him through the Word, and I meditate and pray.  When I bow myself before my Creator and have an exchange of words and thoughts, the first part of that time is letting the Lord know that I am grateful and that I want to be more grateful.  I want to recognize the blessings I’ve been given.  Gratefulness, or thankfulness is one of the greatest attributes a person can possess. 

Learning to be a grateful person doesn’t come easily.  Naturally, we tend to see all the bad stuff we have to put up with.  People who aggravate us daily.  We don’t get to do the things we want to do.  We don’t have all we want.  We never have enough money.  We don’t have the “looks” we’d like to have.  We’re not as athletic as others and we’re not as smart as others, or as popular as others.  Maybe, we can’t travel as much as we’d like or have privacy even in our own home!  Do you get the point?  It’s easy to focus on what we “don’t” have.

Naturally speaking, there’s so much we can complain about.  The world is not a kind place and life is difficult.  Families are complicated and relationships are sometimes impossible.   We may find ourselves sad and angry for no real reason!  And some of us live in a state of disappointment most of the time.  If that’s you, I would say you’re not living a life of gratitude. 

Have you ever wondered what God must think about your thoughts and desires?  Well, you don’t have to wonder… He stated it for us in the New Testament.  The apostle Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  But how can I be thankful for a nagging brother or a parent who can’t understand me?  I feel unappreciated.  I can’t overcome my errors or trauma from the past.  I have an example that might help. 

There was a young woman name Corrie who had a sister named Betsy.  They lived in Holland with their family during World War II and were imprisoned because they had been hiding Jewish people in their home (which was against Nazi law).  They found themselves in a Nazi concentration camp in Germany where living conditions were really bad.  The camp was overcrowded.  Not enough food.  Not enough warmth and clothing.  And, the camp was flea-infested!  They were prisoners in one of history’s worst times.  

In a small Bible that had been smuggled into the camp, the girls read that in all things they were to give thanks and that God could use anything for good.  So, in obedience they reluctantly began to pray and thank God for the fleas!  I can imagine that those first few prayers were a little hard to pray, but they prayed anyway.  In a few months something wonderful happened.  They realized that the guards rarely came to their barracks.  This was awesome because they were no longer assaulted by the guards and they were able to have Bible study and prayer  sessions together with other women!  Lots of women were supported and loved through those special times of prayer and study together.  Many learned to lean on Jesus!

Some time later, they discovered what brought the change and kept the guards away from their barracks.  The fleas!  Yes, the fleas were so bad that the guards would not even go inside that place and it gave the young ladies privacy!  

So, when all you see around you is “fleas” and life is not what you want it to be.  Try something new.  Try to be thankful for the things that you do have.  It’s a funny thing about gratefulness.  The more grateful you become, the better things seem to turn out.  Nobody likes to be around the friend of Winnie-the-Pooh ( Eor”), right?  So, maybe you can give it a try like Corrie and Betsy!  God said it is His will for us.