Do you...

[tiggerlover]

Yes, I do thank God for my blessings, but not as much as I should. I often give praise to Him for blessing me with my DS amongst other things that are good in my life.

I am sorry to hear about your MIL.

 

[Saffron]

While I respect differing opinions, I feel like addictive behaviors are medical problems in and of themselves, and I feel the same compassion and sympathy for someone who suffers death or illness from say, drug addiction, as I would for anyone else.

 

[Bunchkin]

Yes I thank God for my blessings!!
As soon as I started reading this post the song 'Oh Happy Day' started going through my head.
I probably thought of this song for 2 reasons:
1.) I am happy for all the blessings God gives me
2.) I watched the movie 'Big Momma's House' the other night and this song is in it.

 

[EROS]

Bunchkin, "Oh Happy Day" never seems to remind me of "The Big Guy", but always brings me back to:

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color=navy>I do - I think I do everyday. I praise and thank Him for the good times, and I praise and pray for strength and comfort during the hard times.

I know there is suffering in the world, and I've gone through bad times, too, I still do .... but, I look at it as we were never promised a paradise on this Earth, so I don't expect my life to be perfect, or even easy, although I sure do appreciate the good times. In my opinion, life is more than what we know - is more than what we will experience on Earth, and our relationship with God will transcend everything. Makes it simple for me, at least.

I'll say a prayer for you, Shep. I usually include all the DISers when I pray at church on Sundays - I reflect, and I think about the posts I remember where people are having troubles, and I pray. I also praise the Lord for my online friends. I try to be grateful for the the times that I have known those in my life and are now gone either through death or a falling out, and I thank the Lord that I can remember those good times.

 

[disykat]

Originally posted by EROS
Lynn, you're entitled to your opinion, but I would STRONGLY disagree. I've been practicing medicine for 20 years. The VAST MAJORITY of people whom I treat for terrible illnesses did NOTHING in their lifetimes to deserve such suffering. However, they are no more "deserving" of my dedication or effort than those who have abused their bodies and families for years. I would NEVER tolerate your type of value judgments in my students.............

Eros, it would be unethical for a doctor to treat patients any differently. The rest of us slobs can get away with carrying our predjudices. I agree with you that I can't stand it when people blame illness on the patient - I used to work with a woman who swore up and down that stress caused Breast Cancer. What an ignoramous.

However, that doesn't stop me from being a tad judgemental when someone is injured driving drunk. Of course I still believe they deserve medical treatment and feel compassion for them, but a part of me blames them. I think people do watch people who don't take care of themselves and see them as more likely to have health problems - thus don't don't find themselves blaming God for those problems. People are more likely to question "when bad things happen to good people" and have faith issues at those times. Not saying its right or wrong - just that it is. Personally if anyone tells me they are never prejudiced I don't believe it. The key is working through it and seeing the good in everyone.

Personally, I think questioning God is a good thing. Many people go through life not believing in the exisitance of God until they start to need him.

 

[Princess Michelle]

Wonderful thread, Todd.

Absolutely I thank God for all the good things in my life, from the smallest that some might think insignificant to the absolute best things.

I also try my very best to trust God through the bad times. There is always something good even in what seems the worst of times if we just look for it. It's not always easy but for me it's the best option.

 

[nativetxn]

Probably not as often as I should, Shep. I'm sorry to hear your MIL is so ill.

My aunt died of lung cancer and it is an insidious disease. Knowing that she smoked didn't lessen my grief at her loss. I miss her everyday

 

[WDWHound]

I try hard to thank God for every good thing I notice in my life. Right now my life is going very well, so there is lots of praise. It was trickier to find things to thank him for when things weren't going well. I once had some very rough financial times. I came very close to bankruptcy 12 years ago. But through it all, I had a roof above my head and enough to eat every day. By world standards, I was a wealthy man and I tried to thank God for those blessings as often as possible.

 

[JulesMom]

So, true shep

 

[helenabear]

I haven't always done it but recently I have found myself doing it much more lately. The bad thing is it took me a while to get to that point after living through some rough times. I truly wish I could have thanked God at times when I was angry with him, but now even if things don't seem too good, I still know I thank the Lord for all I have been given.

As you know Todd, Amanda's mom and all of your family has been in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Kama89]

Yes I do.

 

[Kitty 34]

Yes, absolutely.

 

[believe]

Shep: My MIL has smoked most of her life and now it has finally caught up with her, she started her chemo treatments yesterday and although the outlook doesn't look good, I don't blame God, sometimes things happen because of choices that people make..

I believe this statement has been misinterpreted. This is not saying that we should treat her any differently because of her choice. Everyone knows that smoking increases your chances of lung cancer and 90% of patients with this type of lung cancer have smoked or are smoking. The paths of our lives are sometimes influenced by choices we make and other times we have no control over what is happening.

In no way do Shep or I believe that anyone should be treated differently because of what caused or didn't cause their illness/injury.

 

[Saffron]

Believe - I understood from what I read, that shep is not questioning God why your mother is dying, but he is instead thanking God for each day he has left with her. I didn't think he meant anything else by it. Sorry if you thought I did.

 

[ead79]

I am very thankful for God's blessings in my life. I used to take more of them for granted, but I have recently really concentrated on being grateful for my MANY blessings. There are way too many to count, and He blesses me even though I am so undeserving at times.

 

[Boots]

Oh yes. I sure do. I have often said that God likes to here Thank you too.