Well, what does grumbling, gratitude and the Dallas Cowboys have in common? If you've had your TV on during the last few weeks of Sunday NFL football, you may know part of the answer to this question. If you live in Texas and not a football fan, you may have caught wind through someone on Facebook that the Dallas Cowboys are in dire straits. DIRE. That's serious. In fact, the definition of dire strait is a 'state of extreme trouble or difficulty.' Yep, that sums it up for the boys! Without Tony Romo, the Cowboys might find themselves out on the lonesome range roping cattle soon. Being an astute ESPN follower, I have noticed quite a few fare weather fans that do nothing but share their critical words about the Cowboys.
Honestly, I don't really have an answer to the sad state of affairs with my Cowboys. I've been a Cowboy fan since I was a kid, simply because I was a cowgirl. I even had the audacity to move to Dallas from the Midwest to be near my team. As much as I follow them and want them to do well, I refuse to grumble and complain. Its sports. Simple as that. I'm in it for the long haul. Thankfully, in the realm of life, it's not a disaster.
How does one mix grumbling and gratitude? Not very well. Here's my take. Being a grateful person every day isn't so easy. It's like starting a new habit, right? It's easy to be grateful when everything in our lives is going well. How quickly things change when our life doesn't go as expected. Gratitude goes out the door. The complaints unravel out of our mouths faster than you can say "complain".... Too much rain. Not enough rain. Angry about an outcome. Questioning a decision at work. Cowboys losing. Complaining is just about as natural as talk itself. How quickly gratitude can depart and grumbling can start.
How can gratitude be a way of life for you? One day at a time. Start a new habit to become more and more grateful, one day at a time. Being grateful to God for the simple things of life. Being grateful for people. Being grateful to people. Looking for ways to have a thankful heart. It is possible. Even thanking Him when things don't go our way. Wow....God loves it when we're grateful people! He created us to be grateful. He TELLS us to be grateful. So, take it from a grateful Cowboy fan. Look around. Take note. There is a ton of things to be thankful for!
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:15-16
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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