Free! Giveaway of The QBQ! Workbook! See below!
Overflowing Abundance
Cereal. We all love cereal. There are “kid” cereals and “adult” cereals—and the truth is adults don’t mind a bowl of Fruit Loops or Captain Crunch now and then, do we? Come on, admit it!
But seriously, when it comes to cereal, do we have amazing choices in America or what?!
You know, I’m not one of those guys who attempts to shame people into feeling thankful for all we have in this country—but I do need to be personally accountable in this area and work on me.
The good news is, I actually felt a little guilty today when I was in the grocery store where I took the photo you see—and saw overflowing abundance in colorful cartons. I asked myself, Am I thankful for all my choices?
Not nearly enough.
A Comparison In Gratitude
My wife and co-author of Raising Accountable Kids, Karen, loves to serve. As a registered nurse, she was a giver. That’s why nurses are nurses—they like to care for people. And she’s good at it. She considers others’ needs more than I do. Karen is also way more generous with something that I hold onto tightly …
Time.
Where I might send a check as a donation, she sends herself.
She traveled to the Philippines and painted a school kitchen. Before that, she went to Honduras and helped lay a concrete floor.
A floor? Was it for the Honduran family’s garage so they could park a fine car? Nope. A basketball court in their backyard? Hardly.
It was to live on. To sleep on. To do life on.
You see, a dirt floor had been their only option, their only choice. And when the church missions team turned it to concrete, Karen saw a family express more joy, gratitude, and gratefulness than—to be totally honest with you—I felt walking through that grocery store today.
More Blessings Than One Can Count
I wish I could tell you that when I roamed the supermarket with choices everywhere, my head was spinning from too many blessings to count. But it wasn’t.
That’s what abundance does. Right now, as I type, I am warmed by our furnace, lounging in a comfy chair that sits on wall-to-wall carpeting not far from a fridge full of choices.
But am I thankful? Yes, but not nearly enough.
Personally, I need to open my eyes to what’s around me—recognize how blessed I am—and let my head spin a bit. It would be good for me to get a little dizzy.
I’m going to work on that.
How about you? What are you thankful for?
Chime in with comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
28 Responses
Talking about being thankful for what we have. A few years ago there was a family our church was hosting that had just arrived in the US. We had them over for dinner. This sweet little girl walked in our front door, looked down, and said, ”What a beautiful mat. Who sleeps on that at night?” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that was what we wipe our feet on, and we have four bedrooms with comfy beds in them. Really put things into perspective for me.
Rick, terrific story. Poignant!
I am thankful for so many professionals like you who write and blog and help us to stay focused on what really matters. Keep up the great work!
Gayla, I do it for you – and me. 🙂 Thanks!
I don’t share many businesses or give-a-ways, but I’m happy to share QBQ! I share this wonderful book with many people each year. I am a teacher and we seem to keep having to do more with less so we need this message more than ever.
Katherine, I never knew! 🙂 Thank you!!!
John, I am so thankful for your presence in my life and grateful for #QBQ to help me remember it’s all about ME!
Davis, too kind, too kind!
I’m thankful for my lovely wife and four handsome/beautiful kids. I’m thankful for the fact my kids got their mom’s looks :). I’m thankful that our youngest is still with us after being born with a heart condition that almost killed her and the transplanted heart that she received 9 years ago at the age of nine months. I’m thankful for the family that made the decision to give her a chance at continued life after losing their child. Mostly, I’m thankful for a God that chose to send His Son to give me and my family a chance a eternal life.
Rex, appreciate you sharing this with all of us… very meaningful!
I am thankful for the friend that cares enough to go to Kentucky and help get the school ready for the coming school year in an area that has poverty. Also, she goes to Arizona once a year to actively immerse herself in helping people trying to cross the border to not die in the desert.
Susan, that’s a good one, for sure!
I have found myself buying QBQ books every year because I love to give them away— and I always hear back on how the read and its message changed peoples lives!!
Melissa, wow! Thank you so much!
I attended one of John’s seminars a few years ago in Grand Island, Ne. It was such a please to meet him and his daughter, Kristin, and spend a few minutes chatting afterward, and of course buying the books, and getting them autographed was the whipped cream on the pie. Very much appreciated the principles of QBQ! that I learned that day and shared with my employees regularly until my retirement last year.
But QBQ! does not stop when we leave the workplace..it begins again at home, in the market, traveling and becomes an integral part of your life.
Thanks John for giving so many of us the opportunity to learn and live the message. I have entered your giveaway for a free book and would surely be honored to have a copy and an autographed copy is always an exciting opportunity for our humble home.
Keep up the great work, sir, and hello to your family as well!
Yours in the spirit and embodiment of the QBQ message!!!
Hi John, I have recently been realizing the same thing–that I’m not nearly as thankful as I should be. I have so very much to be thankful for and I thank God every day for my many blessings. I have been praying lately that God will make me more mindful of the blessings I don’t notice.
Thank you for expressing so eloquently the things I’m experiencing as well!
Dianne, I think you have the market on eloquence cornered! Ha! Well said. Thanks!
Our abundance actually leads me to have a lousy attitude of entitlement. Last year, I was on a Missions Trip to Latin America, however, and I was amazed to see unspeakable joy in the faces of the people. They may have little on earth but they have massive treasures in Heaven. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving.
Bruce.
Bruce, thanks … excellent points! Blessings to you and yours!
Gratitude in things we have got
Is something we should always be taught
And not just give thanks
For what’s in our banks
But all things, for which others have fought
Cliff, well done! 🙂
Although I lost the love of my life just a short 6 months ago to a most sudden and tragic event, I am thankful for the people left in my life. I also lost a few friends because I guess he was the glue that made us friends so when he left, they left. I am thankful for the ones who stayed and the ones who drew closer as they are widows also. I am also grateful for his wonderful family he connected me to. I love QBQ and am also grateful for your most uplifting and inspirational messages!!! Thank you john and your amazing family!!!
I have a million and one things to be thankful for. But right now I’m thankful for the endless prayers that are being offered up for my critical ill 8 year old granddaughter. I’m thankful for the doctors and nurses who have been attending her so diligently now for two weeks; some days I wonder if they ever get to go home. I’m thankful for an employer who says to me as much as I’m missed at the office right now the absolute best place for me is to be with my other grandchildren so their parents can be with their sister. I’m thankful for friends who understand and are so caring. Although our family has been turned upside down over the events of the last two weeks. Mostly, I’m thankful for the scripture in Mark 11:22 that says “…..Have faith in God.” And I’m thankful that we do!
Susan, so sorry for the little girl’s struggles. Must be really tough. But thanks for your faithfulness. Email me at John@QBQ.com to let us know how she does. Blessings.
I’m Thankful for understanding that my blessings flow from the heart of a generous and merciful God who loved me when I was unable to love myself and gives me richly all that i need and more!????
Michael, can’t get much clearer than that! Thanks much!
John, It’s funny, it is never the cereal isle that gets to me, but the produce section. Not that long ago many died of scurvy for lack of vitamin C. I get goosebumps of awe in the blessings I have received being born in this country, at this time, when I can walk into my local grocery store and find fresh asparagus in January. Fruit of any want all year around with rare exception. Beautiful, unblemished, and perfect in every way. That I actually have the luxury of deselecting items because of a minor bruise. Truly blessed and thankful.
John, It’s funny, it is never the cereal isle that gets to me, but the produce section. Not that long ago many died of scurvy for lack of vitamin C. I get goosebumps of awe in the blessings I have received being born in this country, at this time, when I can walk into my local grocery store and find fresh asparagus in January. Fruit of any want all year around with rare exception. Beautiful, unblemished, and perfect in every way. That I actually have the luxury of deselecting items because of a minor bruise. Truly blessed and thankful.