Thank You For The Red Lights Lord! By Senior Blogger: Sharron M.

 Many times when we give thanks to our Heavenly Father, it is when everything appears to be going our way. We are getting along with the family, we love our job, we've spent some wonderful time with our friends, and it seems like life will only get better.

   On my way to work each morning, I drive a route which takes me through three traffic lights. Usually, I only have to stop for one or two.

   I remember, on one particular morning, I managed to time everything just right and had green lights all the way through. "Praise God," I thought, "He is with me today!" This blessing seemed to hold out for me because this continued to happen several more times. I probably started taking this for granted.

   This changed one morning when I came to the first traffic light just as it turned red. I waited and then continued to on my way when it turned green. The whole process was repeated at the second traffic light, and also the third. "Goodness," I thought a bit glumly, "That didn't go right." I stepped on the gas pedal and turned off onto a quieter street. Normally, I would not have thought anything of it as I've managed to hit all red lights before, but my previous success with green lights was still fresh in my mind.

   As I was contemplating this, a little voice asked, "Why don't you ever thank me for the red lights?" My eyes widened, and I pondered the question the Lord seemed to be asking me. Why wasn't I grateful for the red lights? There were a number of reasons: they slowed me down, made me stop, took time, interrupted my trip, and were a general inconvenience and nuisance. Or so I thought.

   The further I thought on this question, the more I realized that the traffic light turning red might be an opportunity to look around me at something God might want me to see. He could be making sure that I avoid an accident along the way or some other unpleasant event.

   Sometimes we forget the thank God for the trials that make us stronger or the things we don't quite understand. We thank God only for the good things that come our way. It might be considered selfish to accept the blessings but reject the lessons when they are both equally important. It was then that I decided to do better.

   Now, as I drive down the road, and I come to a stoplight; instead of cringing, I smile and silently thank the Lord for the red light.

   What lessons have you learned in being thankful in good times and in bad? I'd love to hear from you! As always, may the Lord richly bless you.