FEBRUARY 26, 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Jared sighed as he pushed the door open, pulled the key out, and put it in his pocket. He swung the door shut and turned the lock. “Tony’s mom is home baking cookies, but I have to cook my own Maggie noodles,”he said aloud. He talked to himself a lot when he was alone. That way the apartment did not seem so empty. “I wish I had a pet.”

Jared continued to mumble as he did his chores. Soon he heard his mother at the door. “Hi, honey, how was school?” she asked as she entered the room. “Okay.” Jared did not look up. “I can tell something is bothering you. Let’s talk about it, okay?” She hugged Jared.

Soon Jared was telling Mom all his troubles, especially how he hated coming home to an empty house. Mom sighed. “We talked about this before, and you know I have to work,” she said. “I’d rather be home, but I have no choice. I wished you could have a pet, but the landlord wouldn’t allow that.” Her shoulders slumped. Then she sat up straight. “Jared, you have something many of your friends don’t have. You have Jesus,” she reminded him. “That’s more important than anything else in the world. When we have to do without things we want, I think it helps to remind ourselves of what we do have.” Mom picked up a pen and paper. “Let’s make a list of good things we enjoy,” she suggested. “I’ll start. Let’s see… we have a place to live.”

“And clothes,” Jared added. Mom wrote it down. “You can go to school, and I have a job,” she said. “What else?” “Friends.” Jared started to smile. Jared sniffed the air. He grinned. “We have our Maggie noodles,” he said. “Let’s set the table. I’m hungry!”

Thought: Do your friends have something you wish you had? Instead of thinking of those things, make a list of what you have. Learn to be contented in your circumstances, and thank God for them. Then you will find that things don’t seem so bad anymore.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, whether I have a lot or little, please teach me to be thankful. I want to learn to be more thankful for I know that You have already given me so much. Help me to be a cheerful child and to look not so much at my difficulties but at the many things You have given me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.