Perhaps Daniel Defoe gave us some good advice through his fictitious character Robinson Crusoe. The first thing Crusoe did when he found himself on a deserted island was make a list. On one side of the list, he wrote down all his problems. On the other side of the list, he wrote down all of his blessings.
On one side, he wrote: I do not have any clothes. On the other side he wrote: but it’s warm and I don’t really need any. On one side, he wrote: All the provisions were lost. On the other side, he wrote: but there’s plenty of fresh fruit and water on the island. On down the list he went. In this fashion, he discovered that for every negative aspect about his situation, there was a positive aspect, something for which to be thankful.
It is easy to find ourselves on an island of despair. Perhaps it is time we sit down and take an inventory of our blessings. I well imagine there are some of us who are long, long overdue in expressing our thanks to God. (eSermons.com)
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