AJ and a LATTE

I have been given the great opportunity to present a professional development this summer to elementary music teachers (and anyone else who signs up).  I began looking for the presentation I gave at TMEA a couple of years ago to draw some of my material.  I couldn’t find what I was looking for but ran onto a nugget of wisdom that we all could use occasionally…

If you only had today what you have been thankful for, would you be wealthy or poor?  The main art of joy is gratitude.  

What a great reminder.  What am I thankful for?  Have I thanked my Father for all of the gifts he has given me?  Family, health, provision, extras?  When something good happens, do I immediately thank the Provider of All Things, or do I give someone else the credit?

I had a student come in the other day in a total state of shock.  He had reviewed his bill for the university and knew he had an outstanding balance.  He was having to wait to register.  Then, out of the blue, he got a notice that his account had changed.  An unforeseen grant had been applied alleviating the remainder of his bill and having enough left over to cover living expenses for the summer.  Right then we prayed.  We thanked the Father for His provision in times of struggle.

My dad always told me that we may not have a lot, but every time we were in need, the money or resources are there.  How true that is.  Don’t you know God loves to give to us?  On that same idea, don’t you know he absolutely delights in our knowing every good and perfect gift is from Him?  I know when I would give my son a gift, if he was excited about it, I wanted to give him more!  If he was a sour recipient, it made me think twice about the next occasion.  God is the ultimate example of a parent.  He loves to give to us. When we acknowledge Him, I have got to believe that makes Him even more excited to continue the blessings.  I’m not saying He withholds from us if we don’t thank Him for every little item.  Perhaps we are just more ready to see His blessings when we are grateful.  

So again, I ask…

If you only had today what you thanked God for yesterday, would you be rich or poor?

Until next time…