Cultivating Thankfulness

Written by Lauren - Serving in the Czech Republic

I’m currently typing this on my laptop, using the touchpad ever now and then to correct my spelling or edit grammar mistakes. I’m thanking God for the mousepad. You see, a few weeks ago, some lentil soup spilled on my computer rendering the touchpad unusable though I wiped my laptop down as soon as possible. My device has a touch screen (thankfully), but it was a pain to use as I worked on pricing used books to sell and therefore constantly switching between tabs and my spreadsheet. Then, randomly a few weeks later, it worked again! It’s such a simple thing, something that should work all the time, but being deprived of a touchpad and then being magically restored with the power of clicking overwhelmed me with a sense of gratitude. 

In another instance, I heard Abby express “I’m glad God made pears” as she was eating one. I agree wholeheartedly with that statement, and would go on to add that I’m thankful for strawberries, cherries, apricots, and all the other fruits summer brings. From this internship, I have had so many reasons to be grateful—big and small! Even the days I’m frustrated with the seeming monotony of library work or I’m just not feeling well, there is something to give God a breath of praise for.

Being on a team of interns, especially my team, constantly reminds me about the things to be thankful for because of the different things they notice and their giggles from the next room over. I know that even as the summer ends, I will be able to look back on this time with gratitude. 

Thanks be to God for the daily moving of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God for the ways the Gospel is spreading in Prague.

Thanks be to God for letting him serve Him this summer.