Although I am very thankful, there is a lot I take for granted.

Perspective. If there’s one thing I’m learning during these trying times, it is the significance of perspective.

Last week the three of us wanted to get dinner after work. It was going on 8:00 PM, so I didn’t want to cook. Eating in a restaurant is impossible without a reservation, and most take out options end at eight. I made a quick call- yes! They’re open.
“I’ll have a lobster roll, please”.
“Sorry, we are no longer carrying that.”
“Oh, okay then. I’ll have the chicken pot pie.”
“Sorry, we don’t have that either. We have a very limited menu.”
“Nevermind,” I said, and instead we found ourselves fifteen cars deep at a Popeyes drive-thru, and eating in the car in the parking lot.

I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit sulky. This was not the meal I had in mind, when my son from the backseat says, “This is awesome! We never do this!” And that snapped me out of it. He was right. We were eating, we were together, and we never grab a late night bite of fast food. His perception of the night was that of gratitude and adventure, while I was focused on the negative.

That really isn’t my character. I usually find the positives and make the best, but for reasons I do not understand, these trying times have me out of sorts and I often don’t feel like myself.

Two days later I’m reading from my devotional and there is a story about Max being bumped into first class on an airplane. He was excited and grateful for the extra leg room and added service, while the gentleman next to him complained the whole time. Perception and gratitude were at play, much like our night at Popeyes.

This had my attention. Time to meditate on this attitude of gratitude. Max said on page 97, “Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff. To reflect on your blessings is to rehearse God’s accomplishments.”

Make no mistake, I am eternally thankful for the many blessings God has given me, and I am well aware that all that I have, I have because of Him. But in my reflections on this, I have also learned there is so much I take for granted. This pandemic has really highlighted some of these things.

I am always thankful for the beauty of nature, but I take for granted the ability to go outside to enjoy it.

I am always thankful for my car, but I take for granted my freedom to cross state borders.

I am always thankful for clothes to wear, but I take for granted the freedom to choose what I wear.

An area I have really been struggling with is meals. I am always thankful for groceries, but I take for granted the shelves will be stocked with what I want. And I am always thankful for eating out, but have learned I take for granted the choices.

Philippians 4:8-9

As an exercise to reflect on what I take for granted when I go out to eat, I made a list. A list of things that make eating out an experience, and not just a matter of survival. In no particular order:

What am I taking for granted when I go out to eat?

I am thankful for all of these things, but take them for granted. Max said on page 56, “If you feel the world owes you something, brace yourself for a life of sour hours. You’ll never get reimbursed.” I have grown accustomed to these things being available to me, and now that they are not, I feel slighted.

Although I doubt I will say a prayer of thanks for each of these things as I sit down for every meal, I will be more conscious of them. And when I feel slighted or annoyed, I will try to look at all that I am thankful for, but may be taking for granted.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for bringing to my attention the blessings I was taking for granted. I am not owed anything, and each of the things I am missing in this crazy time is a lesson of gratitude. I am thankful for the gentle reminders from You, through Max and Zach, that a change in perspective is required, and to focus on the blessings I take for granted. In Jesus name, amen.