“All I know most surely about morality and obligation I owe to football”,

Albert Camus

Give thanks

One often hears athletes or coaches thanking God for victories. What about thanking God for defeats? Paul writes: “Give thanks in all circumstances” that must include when you lose. Sometimes defeat is hard to take; other times you can take positives from performance in spite of the result.

Just as Paul challenges us to pray without ceasing, he challenges us to give thanks in all circumstances. It starts with an attitude. If we approach life with a thankful heart, determined to look for things to be thankful for, it helps keep disappointments in perspective.

I am writing this immediately after playing walking football. We lost by one goal – my mistake in the last minute. I was so disappointed but in the grand scheme of things there were so many things to be thankful for: the joy of playing, the sun was shining, the camaraderie. Overall, I played OK. I have a choice to pout and moan or to be thankful for all the blessings.

Can you think of five things that happened today that you can be thankful for?

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