Oprah and Her Big Interview

8:01 PMHeather

I'm so hot under the collar about this whole Lance Armstrong thing and his interview with Oprah Winfrey where he admits he doped. You know, now that he's been found out.  He admits it.  And, honestly, I started to blog about it here today.  But, then I had a better idea.


You see, the flu followed by bronchitis leaves one plenty of time to dwell on such things as media coverage, news stories, and Facebook.  And, after I actually wrote a blog post about Lance Armstrong, I thought better of it. (P.S.  NO, just because he admitted he doped, he should not be reinstated.  His bold defiance and lies deserve to have big consequences, but don't get me started)... 

...I decided that today, I'd much rather give my attention and time to highlight a TRUE hero who also recently had an interview with Oprah Winfrey.  

Check it out here.    Really.  Go.  Look.  Worth ten minutes of your life.  I promise.

Because it says more to you about gratitude than anything my little mind can dream up.  

Nick Vujicic's parents told him he could "either be angry about what he doesn't have...or be thankful for what he does have."  Does that not sum up the current emotional state of so many people in our world?  They are angry about what they don't have.  They are busy counting up all they are missing.  They are drowning in discontent.  They are blind to all they DO have that deserves a thankful response.

Nick Vujicic?  If you watched the video, you know who that is.  If you don't know who it is, go back and watch the video.  He's the one without arms and legs.  Who chooses gratitude.

Hmm.  That video effectively silences my complaints today.  Because I have arms and legs and good health and a loving husband and a warm house and great kids and lots of family and friends and a fabulous church and I live in a free country.  

And, if that's not good enough, I came across a little verse yesterday that I think may hold a key to this whole gratitude thing I'm mulling over this year.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
Hebrews 12:28

Here's my thoughts.  I can be grateful for the little gifts and such every day.  And, I should.  Truly, there's about a million things daily I should be thankful for.  And, that is a good place to start.  In fact, that's honestly what I thought this whole gratitude thing this year was going to be about.  But, this verse stops me in my tracks.

You see, a much deeper, more constant source of gratitude exists.  And when I dwell on it, then I can worship God acceptably.  THEN, I respond with an appropriate awe and reverenceWhen I am ever mindful of the kingdom that cannot be shaken.  When I can focus my mind on the eternal--where I will fellowship forever face-to-face with my Savior--THERE in that place I find a gratitude that eclipses the type of thankfulness that focuses on the temporal gifts.  There, a mind is set on the eternal, and I realize that I am an alien in this world.  Then, my heart is correctly set on my true home. There, my hope of the eternal eclipses the worries of the here and now.

I think Nick Vujicic has stumbled on this secret.  I intend to read his autobiography to learn more, in fact.  But, I think I'm on to something here.  I think the type of gratitude that becomes a heart condition, a life changer, a state of mind and spirit--it's a gratitude that is able to focus on the eternal gifts we've been granted.  And there, our soul finds rest.  Our emotions can be uplifted.  A hope is born that sheds light into the darkest places.  

Gratitude.  I found this saying on Pinterest.  I think it sums up my musings for today.  I think Nick Vujicic would agree.

 

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