On July 4, 1939, then thirty-six year old Lou Gehrig gave one of the most memorable speeches in American sports.  Gehrig had been diagnosed with ALS, a disease that was going to claim his life within two years of his famous speech.  In that speech, Gehrig claimed to be “the luckiest man alive” and said he had “an awful lot to live for.”

     How would we have reacted if we were told that we had a debilitating disease that was sure to claim our lives in a very short time?  Would we feel like the luckiest man alive?  Would we feel like we had a lot to live for or to be thankful for?  Lou Gehrig’s attitude in the face of “a bad break” should serve as a reminder to us all about how we should look at life.

     Rather than focusing our attention on bad news or by the trials that come upon us in life, let us look to all of the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.  He has given us our very lives as our Creator (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7).  He has given us this planet with all of its wondrous beauty on which to live (Psalm 19:1; Gen. 1:1).  He has given us His word so that we can come to know Him and become His children (John 1:12; Phil. 2:15).  He gave us His one and only unique Son in order that we may have the hope of eternal life (John 3:16).

     At this time of the year, we all take a day to think about being thankful for what we have.  However, not just on this day, but all throughout the year let us count those blessings that we have from God.  Even though life can be difficult, and many times we may have to deal with trials, bad breaks, and bad news, let us all realize that we have an awful lot to be thankful for.