A Is For Antidote

In cases of emergency, whether a venomous snake bite or exposure to a hazardous substance, an antidote is given to counteract, neutralize, and relieve the effects of the poison, toxins or harmful elements.  

In cases of anxiety, we already have an antidote for that.  No prescription needed. But in light of the devastating effects of anxiety, being thankful sounds as effective as putting a cute Snoopy band-aid on a broken leg.  But gratefulness to God has great power in its effects.  Being thankful does not just push back the stress, worry, and despair.  It initiates healing, because it is not just applied to the surface like sunscreen.  It comes from the heart.

Anxiety shouts that there is no time for thankfulness, it is just word-play, fantasy and a waste of time, you don't really believe it, and it doesn't make a real difference anyway. But worry does?

Being thankful does not just invoke a warm fuzzy feeling, nor look through the ever-cheerful Spamalot bright side of life. But gratitude is our first defense against anguish, misery and gloom.  Yet, are we really thankful, or do we just want the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way of relief?  We often behave like preschoolers prodded by our moms, "Just play nice and say thank you to the nice lady and she'll give you a cookie." Saying thanks to God is not just reciting a memorized litany so we can ask for something else.  "Ok, thanks, God, but I really want this other thing."

For what am I thankful?  To whom am I thankful?  Are we praying to our own desires?  Or to God? Am I just thankful? Or thankful to God Himself?

To increase my vocabulary in this foreign language of gratitude, I began with the alphabet, thinking of one word or phrase starting with each letter in order.  It was not unlike the alphabet game our girls once played when we were traveling, spotting words on billboards with each consecutive letter.

I began this morning at the gym, instead of just thinking about all I needed to do or worry about today.

Not just conjuring up "Thankful for....."  but Thank You for.....  

I struggled with some letters, but then a second time through, words of thankfulness to God were lining up for their turn.  One word triggered the next.

Thank You for Your abiding.

Thank You for Your blessings.

Thank You for creation in all its splendor.

Thank You for divine appointments. 

Thank You for Your excellence in all things.

Thank You for Your faithfulness.

Thank You for Your goodness.

Thank You for the hard stuff You use to strengthen us.

Thank You for intricate details only You can bring about.

Thank You for Jesus.

Thank You for Your Kingdom come.

Thank You for the invention of laughter.

Thank You for making every moment holy.

Thank You for nature that proclaims Your glory.

Thank You for the ordinary.

Thank You for Your provision in unlikely places.

Thank You for Your quietness in the midst of chaos.

Thank You for Your redeeming, restoring, and renewing.

Thank You for our salvation.

Thank You for trees and the testimonies of the faithful.

Thank You for the blessings of the unexpected. 

Thank You for violet skies at dawn.

Thank You for walking with us through.

Thank You for Your extraordinary love.

Thank You for YOU.

Thank You for the zany stuff that makes us smile.

As I completed the alphabet, so many other things, specific incidents, names of people, and blessings were already standing in a crowd, waiting their turn.  Some things I knew I was thankful for, some I hadn't yet acknowledged, some things I had just never said, "thank You, God."

I've only scratched the surface.  Throughout the rest of the day, another letter, another word, another thankfulness emerged.  I saw things differently.  Not "how can I be thankful for that?" But being thankful to God for obvious joys, and even for what I do not yet understand.  Trust Me in this.

God is not just enlarging my vocabulary of thankfulness, but softening my heart, changing my mind, and sharpening my vision to everything around me and being more attentive to things eternal.  I am strengthened by this exercise.  God empowers me to go forth differently into my day, engraved with 26 letters of thanksgiving.  What does that change?  Everything. 

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation, by prayer and petition,

                   with thanksgiving

present your requests to God.

And the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds

            in Christ Jesus.

                              Philippians 4. 6