Some time ago, I read a story about a fine-art teacher who drew and colored two moderate size circles on the big white chalkboard in the fine-art room. As the class of thirty students came in and settled down, he gave each of them a small piece of paper, pointed at the chalkboard and asked them this question; “what do you see?”

Twenty-eight of them wrote, “I can see a red and a black circle.” The remaining two wrote, “I can see a red and a black small circle on the white chalkboard.”

The teacher randomly asked a few of those who wrote that they saw “a small red and a black circle” why they did not make mention of the big white chalkboard the circles were drawn on. They responded that it was because they did not consider the chalkboard as part of the objects of observation. He further asked them why they did not view the white chalkboard as part of their objects of observation. They replied that since they were already familiar with the chalkboard, they felt it was not of any significance therefore they ignored it.

He then asked the two students who had written that they saw “a red and a black circle on a big white chalkboard” why they included the big white chalkboard. They replied and said it was because they saw and recognized the white chalkboard not only as a part of the objects of observation but also as an important object that made the drawing of the two circles possible.

How very much like the twenty-eight students that took for granted the white chalkboard as part of their object of observation due to the fact that they were familiar with it are many of us in Christendom who give thanks to God only for specific blessings while ignoring the mundane blessings of life during our private and public thanksgiving services because we are familiar with them.

It is a common thing on thanksgiving services in most churches for majority of the congregation to come forward to give thanks to God only for what they considered to be special blessings of God to them such as new houses, new cars, new births, promotion, school admission, graduation, safe childbirth, marriage, new job, deliverance from accident and several others. Giving thanks to God for specific blessings is a good and important thing to do.

However it is also important and good to equally come forward and give thanks to God for His uncountable common goodness and blessings that we have all about and around us each day, year-in, year-out that we are familiar with that we regard as mundane blessings as stipulated by God’s commandment that says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:20.

This implies that we are supposed to give thanks for everything both the things we considered as mundane and those considered as special blessings.

Ironically, those blessings we see as “mundane” and hardly thank God for are very vital to our existence without which we cannot enjoy the special blessings given. Those things we consider as mundane are our lives’ wires. These include, life, sunlight, fresh air, water, food, protection, provisions peace, love, good health, strength, vitality, family members, neighbors, friends, safety, ability to do all we do, eating, sleeping, breathing, body organs, opportunities, privileges, night and day, clothes to cover our unclothedness, trees, animals, birds, rivers, sky, stars and moon, and several others. Can you imagine what life would be like without these things? God deserves being appreciated for them.

There are many things we do on a daily basis that we take for granted and never deemed them fit to give thanks to God for simply because we assumed such things are too ordinary, trivial or normal. However, the truth is that doing those things do not come easy, or normal to some people. Most things we can do naturally and take for granted cannot be done by numerous people, not because they don’t want to do it, but because they don’t have the grace and strength to involve in such activities. It takes the grace of God to do all we do. Waking up and getting out of bed bathing and dressing up is challenging for some people. Not all can defecate, urinate, digest foods, breath, and rise from their bed or chair without special gargets. Getting money to buy food and getting food to buy, cooking or eating is hard for some people to do. Not all can afford to rent a room, buy land or build houses. Not all can afford to buy soap for bathing and washing. Not all have access to drinkable water, health care services. Some have houses but cannot stay in them, some have cars, but cannot drive, some have certificates but cannot work with them, and some are married but cannot have children while some have children but they cannot take care of them. Some have beds but find it very difficult to sleep at any time of the day. Some have all the good things of life but they cannot enjoy them because of ill health. The grace to do these comes from God, Ecclesiastes 5:19.

It is important to thank God for all you can do no matter how minute we consider them to be because doing anything at all involves divine strength as Jesus made us realize in John 5:15. God is the strength of our life! This implies whatever you are able to do at all is as enabled and empowered by Him, we can do all things through Christ who strengths us. All we are capable of doing are by His grace and power alone and not by our own power and abilities, therefore we must give Him thanks for them. Consider these; not everyone with brains can learn, memorize, think, imagine things, plan, reason well, ponder, create, comprehend, understand or remember things. Not all with eyes can open them and see with them, close them at will, blink or shed tears. Not all with ears can ear with them. Not all with a nose can breathe through them or smell with them. Not all with a mouth can talk at all or talk cohesively, pray, eat, swallow, taste, sing, or spit with them. Not all have teeth and not all that have teeth can bite, cut and chew. Not all with necks can turn their heads to certain directions. Not all have legs and not all with legs can walk, run, squat, jump, bend, wear shoes, move their toes, match, climb or do certain things others do with their legs. Not all have hands and not all with hands can clap, grip, write, fold them, bath, type, eat with them, hug another, lift or carry up or hold something with it. Not all with butts can sit up. Not all can lie down on their sides or back. Many people have their body parts complete but cannot do anything by themselves but have to be assisted by others because there is no vitality and strength in their bodies. It is therefore important to appreciate Him in everything we do as we are commanded “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” —Colossians 3:15-17.

From my observation, I have discovered that some of us get very bitter and sad just because of one thing we lack or believe God has not done for us due to our turning blind eyes to the uncountable common blessings of God round about us. If you didn’t thank him for what he has blessed you with in abundance, how do you want Him to give to you what you desire? It is good and appropriate to appreciate God for what He has already given to us no matter how we classified them and also thank Him for things we are waiting in anticipation for.

God deserves being celebrated at all times for all His blessings goodness and mercies Psalm 136: 1.

Remember to always thank God for His unspeakable gift of His Son Jesus Christ – Author of our Salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Bible, and the Church, 2 Corinthians 9:15

I AM GRATEFUL OH LORD, FOR ALL THINGS. THANK YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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