Attitudes

I’ve heard real estate folks say that the three most important things in real estate are location, location, and location. I believe the three most important things in Christian living are attitude, attitude, and attitude. What happens to you or around you is not nearly as important as is how you react to it. I believe God sometimes allows events in our lives to test how we will react to them; and maybe allows them to linger until we display the proper attitude.

The Bible makes it clear that God does not like for us to complain. Numbers 11:1 says, “And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord”. In Exodus 16:8 Moses told the people that when they complained, it wasn’t against him, but against the Lord.

I figure I do enough every day already to displease the Lord without adding complaining to the list. So I try hard to not complain, and in truth, I have nothing to complain about. But sometimes it happens anyway, and when it does I try to visualize myself standing out in a lightening storm shaking my fist at God……that ought to give anybody instant repentance and a change of attitude.

Our dishwasher went out recently, and the first thought I had was how thankful I was for the six years of dependable, reliable service it had given us. Yeah right, well, it should have been my first thought. When the muffler and tailpipe fell off my old car as I was backing out of the carport, my first thought should have been; thank you Lord that this didn’t happen on the interstate, coming home from Columbus in the rain yesterday ….. it should have been my first thought, but wasn’t.

I remember a little primary era song about counting your many blessings and naming them one by one; we don’t do enough of that. I’m seventy years old and never one time in my life have I ever been hungry and had nothing to eat…..didn’t always want what I had, but had food. Never one time in my life have I been alone with no friends or family I could call…..I’ve been lonesome, but never alone in the world. Never one time in my life have I ever been homeless, without bed and shelter. Sometimes it was shaky and leaky with past due payments, but always a bed and a roof over my head. Millions and millions of God’s people cannot make these three statements. That’s what I mean when I say I have nothing to complain about.

Lord free me from eyes which see nothing but faults and a mind which always thinks the worse, grant me always an attitude of gratitude.