by Brandy Webb

We just had Thanksgiving, and I had one of those “aha” moments. My husband and I hosted Thanksgiving this year for the first time in a long time, mainly because we haven’t had a house large enough to host. So, this year we decided to host since finally we have the space to do so. 

Well, you know the normal questions people ask which usually are “How are things going?” or “How are you doing?” Usually, the typical response is “Things are going okay” or “I’m doing okay.” I’m trying to figure out what defines as “okay.” I’m thinking it may be life isn’t great, but it isn’t that bad either? 

This Thanksgiving though, I heard a completely different response from my husband when my grandmother asked him how he was doing. He immediately, without skipping a beat, said “I’m doing wonderful!” I was in the kitchen prepping food, when I heard this exchange loud and clear. I don’t know if anyone else was paying attention, but it made me pause. My grandmother responded with “Oh (pause) that is great.” She was even kind of surprised by the response. However, it made me think, why was my grandmother and I surprised by my husband’s answer? When did the statement “I’m doing wonderful” become strange? Why do we just expect the “okay” answer? Aren’t we supposed to rejoice always and be joyful?

Is my husband’s life perfect? No. He has trials just like everyone else. In fact, we had a major mud trial just the day before Thanksgiving prior to everyone’s arrival. He has also experienced really hard trials. We both have. However, my husband looks at life with a different perspective than most people I know, me included. He was being honest when he answered my grandmother. He felt wonderful because he likes to pay attention to the wonderful things in his life. We have a great marriage, two healthy kids, a house big enough to host Thanksgiving, food, friends, family, etc… Life isn’t perfect, but if one doesn’t dwell on the imperfections, one can see the wonderfulness of his or her life. That is my husband’s main point; he chooses to have a more positive perspective. He doesn’t allow himself to dwell on the frustrations of life because, to him, that gives his carnal flesh and Satan power instead of God’s Spirit.

His statement made me analyze my perspective on life. I realize things in life are wonderful; you just have to look for them sometimes. It requires us to work on our attitudes and perspective. We can’t be lazy and let the darkness of stress, worries, and anxieties cover up the positive lights that we have all around us. Right now at this very moment we have many things to praise God for, but we have to choose to notice them. When we choose to do so, we can feel wonderful too.

Psalm 40:5: O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.