Do it with gratitude

Ihad a heart attack back in February. We eat healthy at our house (besides the occasional Sonic or Dairy Queen meal) and I run three miles every day so you would not think I would be a candidate for a heart explosion. The doctor tells me it’s bad genetics. My dad had heart trouble and my grandmother died from a heart attack in her fifties, so I guess I’m cursed.

Did you know one out of ten people die from a heart attack? That’s scary. After a trip to the ER, an ambulance ride, a couple of trips to the cath lab, three stents, blah, blah, blah I’m supposed to be good to go. It seemed like my recovery was not as easy as what some people experience and I’ve still got some issues, but praise the Lord, right?!

I told you all of that to tell you this. Since the heart attack I take about a million pills a day. My cardiologist says they keep me alive, and the Blonde is a great gatekeeper ensuring I don’t ever miss my daily routine. If I had a $100 bill for every time I’ve heard in Jennifer’s sweet, loving voice, “Did you take your pills today?” I would be typing this from the beach on South Padre Island in my wetsuit with my surfboard next to me.

My point is our church is doing a “no complaining” challenge based on Philippians 2:14, “Do everything without complaining.” We have some great wristbands that encourage us not to grumble, find fault or complain , so if you need one to serve as a reminder hit me up, I’ve got you covered. The idea is to go 21 days without complaining because if you do anything for 21 days it becomes a new habit and then obedience to the Lord concerning this precept should become a lifestyle. Isn’t that great!?

I had a streak of five days going. I had not complained or grumbled about anything and then that night I remembered it was time to take my second round of pills. Out loud I said, “I hate to take my pills.” So good ol’ Pastor Ken had to start over the next day with “day one” of not complaining and today I’m on my second day. So far so good. We all know Ephesians 5:20, “give thanks always and for everything” - it’s just knowing and doing are two different things (James 1:22).

I gotta tell you though, my attitude has changed from a couple of days ago. Maybe it’s because Thanksgiving is around the corner, I’m not sure. I’m really glad we have the technology and the wisdom to produce this medication that helps keep my heart going. Why would I complain about something as important and good as that. Grumble or gratitude that’s the choice we make every day and really moment by moment. It is about perspective, isn’t it?

Get a jump on the New Year. Set a goal to be more thankful in 2024. Even if you have to do some things you would rather not do, do it with gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!

He told me to tell you that.