"...and be thankful"

I have recently been studying the book of Colossians in my quiet times with the Lord.  What a rich letter Paul wrote.  It has been nicel that our pastor has been teaching through it as well which has helped me understand it more.  There is so much truth to glean, conviction to be felt, and application to live out.  I could write for days on what the Lord has been teaching me but thought I would just share what I was reminded of this morning.  As I looked over the verses from the sermon yesterday, Colossians 3:15-17, the common theme was thankfulness. Verse 15 says "and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...And be thankful", v16 "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another...with thankfulness in your hearts to God", v17 "whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.

I have been reflecting this morning if my life and my words reflect "thankfulness in my heart".  If there is any season of my life that my heart should reflect thankfulness, it is this season of life.  Yet, somehow I still find things to complain about or reasons to be discontent.  I have nothing to complain about and everything to be thankful for.  I am especially thankful for our little boy that we will be meeting so soon. (5 weeks or less!) I have been praying for this little boy almost daily since Lan and I got engaged.  I asked the Lord often that He would be gracious in allowing us to conceive a child and that I would have the privilege of experiencing pregnancy and carrying a little life within me.  He saw fit to answer this prayer with a "yes", a quicker "yes" than I would have dreamed. Our hearts overflowed with thankfulness when we realized God was saying yes to this deep desire of our hearts. Yet...somehow, now I find myself bordering on complaining, almost daily.  I "share"/complain about feeling so heavy, I will never look the same, being so uncomfortable, my back hurts, my hips hurt, I have lots of heartburn, sleep is interrupted 8 times a night by my tiny bladder, there's so much to get done still, etc...etc.. I don't think it's wrong to be honest when someone asks me how I feel...but I want my "feeling" of thankfulness to so far outweigh feelings of discomfort, that that is what I feel inclined share.  It's just amazing how quick I am to forget the Lord's goodness and faithfulness.  This baby boy and this pregnancy is a GIFT, a blessing, not something that was promised but something the Lord, in His mercy saw good to give.  All that to say, if you read this and you talk to me...don't allow me to go on about discomforts, remind me of truth.  I know when he arrives, it will be a whole new set of "struggles" and "discomforts".  Even then, I am praying that my heart chooses thankfulness.  I know it will be easier said than done :)

The last verse I read this morning was very fitting as I reflected,  Colossians 4:6--"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Thankful for the Lord's patience with me.