A couple of friends and I were commenting on how the warm weather still hanging around was getting tiresome. It then occurred to us that in Phoenix, we do not have to worry about tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, or snow. No unexpected earthquakes send us scampering to hide under a saguaro, either.

Collectively, we realized our blessings, weather-wise, notwithstanding the summer.  It seemed ungrateful to whine about the beautiful temperatures here while other locations are shoveling snow or dealing with natural disasters.

A month ago, we were the ones affected by severe weather, as evidenced by the numerous uprooted trees, whose root balls are at least 10 feet in diameter. A microburst damaged several areas nearby, including golf courses and parks. The profuse rain caused flash floods and hail in some areas. Our perpetually dusty roof has never been so clean.

We had prayed for rain, just not two years’ worth at once.

So, it got me thinking about gratitude and recognizing how blessed I am. Even illnesses and surgeries, on some level, are a blessing. I’ve gotten in the habit of immediately thanking God for the new day before opening my eyes.

You too are incredibly blessed if you:

Have indoor plumbing, heat, or air conditioning.  You turn the faucet, and water comes out, hot and cold.  There is food in the fridge and pantry, and if you need something, you hop in your car and run to the store. You can pray and practice your faith without worrying about being beheaded.  Bombs are not going off around you, nor soldiers with guns guarding your neighborhood. You can go to the hospital, see a doctor, or see a dentist. Own a cell phone or computer. Your kids go to school or are homeschooled. You have a job and can pay your bills. You are free to come and go as you please. Walking at night in your neighborhood is possible without donning a bulletproof vest. Calling 911 gets you immediate help. And you can make negative comments against the government and not be kidnapped and never heard from again.

This is an imperfect list of the enormous blessings most Americans take for granted.

We have lost sight of our blessings —too numerous to name —and, despite this, have the audacity to constantly complain.

Each morning, we should wake up shouting Thank you, Jesus! All day, a smile and a cheery greeting should grace our lips. While driving in our automobiles, our gratitude should overflow as we extend courtesy to fellow drivers and wave them in with more than one finger.

If having almost everything mattered, we should be the happiest people on the planet. Seriously!

So why aren’t we?

We blow through red lights when they’re inconvenient, cutting others off and flashing the one-finger salute. We get angry if we’re made to slow down even for a second. Constantly in a hurry, we are impatient with others. We don’t like our neighbors, associate with our co-workers, or anyone whose opinions or politics differ from ours. We’re rude to the cashier who forgot to put a lid on our latte, and snippy with the grocery worker who doesn’t get our order just right. Waving hello to our neighbor wastes precious time because they might want to talk.

When traveling abroad, you can spot us a mile away because we are often the loudest, most offensive, and most arrogant travelers. It’s embarrassing.

My aging mind often reminds me that it used to be different.

We lived in South Korea years ago when it was a third-world country under Martial Law. That was a wake-up. Yet the people there were happier and kinder in their poverty than we are in our comfort. The same could be said of several other countries we visited that existed in extreme poverty.

Have all our underappreciated comforts made us entitled brats?

Not everyone acts this way, but the numbers are growing. The ugly American is getting uglier.

The point of all this is to say: STOP and take a moment to consider —where would you be if it all were taken away? The truth is, no one is better than anyone else. We need each other as fellow citizens and as a nation. We are better together; One Nation Under God. Petty division doesn’t look good on us and is tearing us apart, making us vulnerable easy targets.

There is a solution I propose —a step in the right direction—that begins with realizing how incredibly blessed we are. Everything we have is a gift; a gift that can be taken away.

The answer to what ails America, in part, is a lack of gratitude.

“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 1Col 3:17

Gratitude in action is contagious, resulting in more kindness, love, and greater appreciation. We begin to see life as the incredible gift that it is through the generosity of the Creator.

Start right now —look around. There are a million things you have overlooked to be thankful for. Be mindful of all you’ve been given and give thanks to God.

“In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”         1Thes 5:18

We owe God everything. Whether you are Christian or not, fostering an attitude of gratitude is the first step in opening our eyes to the overabundance of gifts that surrounds us. Acknowledge the Giver, and share the blessings with others, just as God has done with us.

I challenge us all for the remainder of the year to acknowledge ten things you are grateful for every day and intentionally thank that person and God.