I once knew a man who was never satisfied with what he had.  When he was a boy he worked after school to make some spending money.  He picked up trash, mowed grass and did odd jobs for a dollar a day.  It was not long before he had saved $50 and the money seemed to burn in his pocket.  He still recalls the knife he bought from a magazine with that $50.  He was so excited the day he opened the mailbox and saw the small box with his name on it.  Sadly, after he possessed the knife for only a short time he grew dissatisfied with it and quickly lost interest altogether.  Today, he does not even know what happened to his once treasured possession.

        If I only had a dollar for each treasure he has obtained and later let slip through his fingers.  His is a never ending search for the shiny.  Always seeking something new and constantly chasing after something that sparkles brighter he quickly forgets about his last prized possession as he runs after the latest fad.  Year after year he has been on a quest to find something that would finally satisfy his hungry heart.  The Rolling Stones sing a song that could very well be his theme song entitled, “I can’t get no satisfaction”.  Have you ever felt like singing along with my friend? 

        There is good news concerning the unsatisfied man, although he has not completely gotten over his desire for the stuff that glitters, he has discovered a wonderful truth.  The more he is thankful for the stuff he has, the more he enjoys them.  Gratitude has a way of transforming a small blessing into a taste of heaven.  Because as thankfulness and gratitude increases in our lives dissatisfaction and discontent decrease.  Don't believe me?  Give this a try; today spend some time counting your blessings, and spend some time thanking your generous Heavenly provider for what you have (even if it does not shine like it once did) and see if your “stuff” doesn’t  please you more when looked at through grateful eyes.

        Of all the people in this world, we ought to be the most thankful.  We have been given so much, how dare we be ungrateful and dissatisfied with our treasures.  We can see the sunset, hear a baby’s cry, we have health, and jobs, families, friends, education and wealth beyond belief, and sadly we want more.  Do yourself a favor and add a little gratitude to this day, it is like instant glitter.  Happiness is a choice; choose to be grateful.  You will thank me for it.

Something to thank about:

• Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road.

• Is not sight a jewel? Is not hearing a treasure? Is not speech a glory? O my Lord, pardon my ingratitude, and pity my dullness who am not sensible of these gifts.

• I fear that what will surprise us most, when we see our Lord, will be the extent of our own ingratitude.

• When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.

• It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.

• So much has been given to me, I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied.

• We ain’t what we want to be. We ain’t what we gonna be. But, thank God, we ain’t what we was.

The boy who lost his knife and found a treasure
Rickey Moore