Choosing a Heart Attitude of Thankfulness

Choosing a heart of thankfulness begins when one recognizes just how blessed they are.

November… the month of Thanksgiving. It brings out a new attitude and inspires a healthy perspective in most people. But this is the thing, we should be choosing this same heart attitude everyday.

As I share this picture of my sixth child with you. My heart swells with thankfulness for him and all my children, but when I look at this picture, I see so much more.

I see LIFE.

I see a PROMISE fulfilled for my Heavenly Father and a PROMISE for the future.

I see that I was CHOSEN… to be a mom… the mom of this little one. And he was CHOSEN to be my son.

I see a PURPOSE. God made this baby and me, for a purpose.

I see an ADVENTURE. The unknown adventures to come in this life. Twenty-four years ago, as a ten-year old, I would have never thought I would have six amazing children and one on the way or be blessed with the man God chose for my partner in this life. What an adventure.

**I remember mercy. How in the midst of physical hardship, God chose to just hold out His hand of mercy to me in the midst of the birth of this son and it was beautiful. The first words I** cried out as my husband handed him to me was, “God had mercy on me.”

Note to my young sister who is about to be a mom,
       I know pregnancy can be rough. I wasn’t one of those “blessed” ones that never got sick. Oh no. For those who have read Redeeming Childbirth, you know my story. You know I was sick EVERY pregnancy. With some I was sick all the way to the end {or beginning} and had one last “upchuck” right after delivering the baby, just for old times sake.

So as far as feeling thankful goes, it wasn’t easy. I had to train myself to stay positive and choose joy.

I had to be careful what I watched on tv so I wouldn’t grow discontent with my body or marriage.

I had to be intentional about what I listened to, choosing only to listen to things that invited the Lord to be my focus. While I was pregnant I was so easily attacked. The enemy wanted to discourage me. And you have to realize that he wants to discourage you too.

But the Lord, He is the one who can give us true JOY. A thankful heart is a fruit of the spirit of God in our lives, just as much as a cheerful heart. And we, who have the Spirit of the Living God literally living inside of us have the power to turn the atmosphere of a room or a home in a matter of seconds. We also have the power to bring it down. This influence needs to be under the submission of the Lord.

     So I know it isn’t easy sister. I know I may not have the same circumstances you have. But we are called and responsible for our role in bringing forth life in everything we do, in every season. Even when we feel crummy. There are still things we can choose to be thankful for. Focus on those. Put your hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Trust that He always has your spiritual good in His hands. It may be hard now, but this hard you are walking through can produce such a fruit in your life and the life of your marriage and family. None like you have ever seen or could ever imagine. So embrace it. Take it for what it is worth. Look for the spiritual lessons that might be hiding in the hardest of dark times when you can’t see but 3 feet in front of you.
     And remember, you are loved. And you are not alone.

Thankfulness is not supposed to be conditional.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5:18

Let’s choose today, and everyday, to put on a heart attitude of thankfulness for LIFE.

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1

Thankfulness for the gift our children are to us, the gift that God chose us to be their mothers.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:7

Thankfulness for the gift of life that God gives us everyday we awake.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Col. 4:2

Thankful for the life of a love relationship in marriage… for the gift of walking through life with someone so dear and close.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col. 3:15-17

Choosing a Heart Attitude of Thankfulness

Choosing a heart of thankfulness begins when one recognizes just how blessed they are.

November… the month of Thanksgiving. It brings out a new attitude and inspires a healthy perspective in most people. But this is the thing, we should be choosing this same heart attitude everyday.

As I share this picture of my sixth child with you. My heart swells with thankfulness for him and all my children, but when I look at this picture, I see so much more.

I see LIFE.

I see a PROMISE fulfilled for my Heavenly Father and a PROMISE for the future.

I see that I was CHOSEN… to be a mom… the mom of this little one. And he was CHOSEN to be my son.

I see a PURPOSE. God made this baby and me, for a purpose.

I see an ADVENTURE. The unknown adventures to come in this life. Twenty-four years ago, as a ten-year old, I would have never thought I would have six amazing children and one on the way or be blessed with the man God chose for my partner in this life. What an adventure.

**I remember mercy. How in the midst of physical hardship, God chose to just hold out His hand of mercy to me in the midst of the birth of this son and it was beautiful. The first words I** cried out as my husband handed him to me was, “God had mercy on me.”

So as far as feeling thankful goes, it wasn’t easy. I had to train myself to stay positive and choose joy.

I had to be careful what I watched on tv so I wouldn’t grow discontent with my body or marriage.

I had to be intentional about what I listened to, choosing only to listen to things that invited the Lord to be my focus. While I was pregnant I was so easily attacked. The enemy wanted to discourage me. And you have to realize that he wants to discourage you too.

Thankfulness is not supposed to be conditional.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5:18

Let’s choose today, and everyday, to put on a heart attitude of thankfulness for LIFE.

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1

Thankfulness for the gift our children are to us, the gift that God chose us to be their mothers.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:7

Thankfulness for the gift of life that God gives us everyday we awake.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Col. 4:2

Thankful for the life of a love relationship in marriage… for the gift of walking through life with someone so dear and close.

Thankful for the ultimate gift of eternal life.

What are you thankful for?

“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.” Philemon 1:4

Happy Thanksgiving

Angie Tolpin

About Angie Tolpin

Choosing a heart of thankfulness begins when one recognizes just how blessed they are.

November… the month of Thanksgiving. It brings out a new attitude and inspires a healthy perspective in most people. But this is the thing, we should be choosing this same heart attitude everyday.

As I share this picture of my sixth child with you. My heart swells with thankfulness for him and all my children, but when I look at this picture, I see so much more.

I see LIFE.

I see a PROMISE fulfilled for my Heavenly Father and a PROMISE for the future.

I see that I was CHOSEN… to be a mom… the mom of this little one. And he was CHOSEN to be my son.

I see a PURPOSE. God made this baby and me, for a purpose.

I see an ADVENTURE. The unknown adventures to come in this life. Twenty-four years ago, as a ten-year old, I would have never thought I would have six amazing children and one on the way or be blessed with the man God chose for my partner in this life. What an adventure.

I remember mercy. How in the midst of physical hardship, God chose to just hold out His hand of mercy to me in the midst of the birth of this son and it was beautiful. The first words I cried out as my husband handed him to me was, “God had mercy on me.”

So as far as feeling thankful goes, it wasn’t easy. I had to train myself to stay positive and choose joy.

I had to be careful what I watched on tv so I wouldn’t grow discontent with my body or marriage.

I had to be intentional about what I listened to, choosing only to listen to things that invited the Lord to be my focus. While I was pregnant I was so easily attacked. The enemy wanted to discourage me. And you have to realize that he wants to discourage you too.

Thankfulness is not supposed to be conditional.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5:18

Let’s choose today, and everyday, to put on a heart attitude of thankfulness for LIFE.

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 106:1

Thankfulness for the gift our children are to us, the gift that God chose us to be their mothers.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:7

Thankfulness for the gift of life that God gives us everyday we awake.

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Col. 4:2

Thankful for the life of a love relationship in marriage… for the gift of walking through life with someone so dear and close.

Thankful for the ultimate gift of eternal life.

What are you thankful for?

“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.” Philemon 1:4

Happy Thanksgiving

Angie Tolpin

About Angie Tolpin

**I remember mercy. How in the midst of physical hardship, God chose to just hold out His hand of mercy to me in the midst of the birth of this son and it was beautiful. The first words I** cried out as my husband handed him to me was, “God had mercy on me.”