Sunday Reflections: September 4, 2011

Do we recognize the blessings of our loving Father in Heaven each day of our lives?  I think that we underestimate His hand in our lives sometimes.  Here are some of the things that show God's hand in our lives. We have food on our table enough to eat, a roof over our heads, clothes to wear, a place to rest our heads every night.  Every day we get to live is a blessing.  We never know when our time will end here on earth.  Every minute we get to spend with our children and loved ones is a direct blessing from God.  Being blessed with healthy, happy children is a blessing. God blesses us with wonderful friends and neighbors who are watchful and mindful of us. He blesses us with strength to carry out our duties each day.  He blesses us with strength to endure trials.  He blesses us with talents.  Really the list is endless.  Every moment, every second, every little thing in our lives from the food we eat to the air we breathe, to having money to provide for our families, to the people in our lives:  All direct blessings from our Father in Heaven.  

I wonder about my friends and family who have no desire to recognize God in their lives.   It's hard for me to fathom.  Is it pure pride and stubborness?  Is it the fact that they want to be independant and not rely on anyone...not even God.  Do they get satisfaction believing that they don't need God in their lives to succeed?  I just want to shake them and tell them how much greater life would be if they WOULD recognize God in their lives and let Him be a part of their lives.  Their lives are a gift from God.  He loves them and yet they rebel and turn away from their one true source of Happiness.  I wonder how they would feel (for those who are parents) if the child they gave life to turned away from them and wanted nothing to do with them. I wish they could understand that that is what they are doing to their Father in Heaven.  Turning from the one who gave them life and everything good in it.  He wants to bless them with everything He has to give.  All they are required to do is to believe in Him and to keep His Commandments.  Do they purposefully turn away from God because their friends and family so desperately desire them to turn to God and they would feel like they were giving in and not being strong and independant?  It's just SO FRUSTRATING to me.  Why do they have to be so stubborn?  Partly its because there are so many people of the world who tell them that they don't need God.  They think that they can be happy and successful without God.  Which in some degree is true but it does not last. True and everlasting peace and happiness will only be found by turning our lives to God, keeping His commandments, and recognizing His hand in our lives.