Have you ever watched the old Walt Disney movie entitled, Pollyanna? I love that movie! Every time I view it I think, “When I grow up I want to be just like Pollyanna!” If you’ve never seen the movie—well, you should, but here is a very quick synopsis: A young girl comes to live with her very controlling, duty-bound, old-maid aunt after her missionary parents die. Because the town, which is named after her grandfather, is basically run by the aunt, everyone seems to be bitter, angry or resigned to lives that will never change. This Monday is the same as last Monday which was the same as the Monday before and before and before. Enter Pollyanna, a little girl who can take any crumby situation and find the good in it. She is a master at knowing how to “give thanks always for all things. . .” (Ephesians 5:20) .
Last week, as I had the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving (several times in fact!), I was reminded of how much God has done for me personally, and how much He has done for Shepherd’s Gate on a daily basis this past year. I don’t have the room to list everything that has happened in this building since last Thanksgiving, but suffice it to say that not one need has gone unmet! He may not have done things the way we thought He would, or in the time frame in which we would have liked it to be done, but He always answered in ways that were far better than any we had planned.
I was also reminded, and I must be honest and tell you, that I have not always given thanks in the middle of a trial that He has allowed in my life. I have asked, “Why?” more than I want to admit, but as I look back—God has always—always come through for me in ways that I could never have imagined!! He has blessed me “exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). With that in mind, when the next “how come?” issue crosses my path; when I feel fearful, uneasy or upset over a situation, I need to remember that He is faithful. He is always faithful to do what He promises. When I don’t understand, when I don’t really like the situation in which I find myself —He is still going to work it out for my good (Romans 8:28), and with that being the case, I need to practice becoming a master of giving thanks for everything. I need to get on the Polly Trolley!!!
