By Wendy Reaume

I met a woman in Canada from China. She initially left China with her family to come for more schooling, but the real reason was to be able to bring their children up in the Lord with the freedom to worship and - being young - without the influence of the Chinese government against spiritual things.

On Thanksgiving she shared her reason for joy. While in North America there is sometimes the problem of a poor work ethic; in China it is the opposite. Value and worth come from hard labour and provision of daily needs, but according to Hui, that means working from dawn to dusk day after day every day of the week, and the focus continually being on production and not people. If the factory needs to make more, the workload is increased and not the labour force. She cried as she shared her joy at finding a new way of life: a way that allows time for Bible study, time for rest, time for going to church on Sunday morning and time each day to sit and pray and read God’s Word. We don’t have to be so exhausted that we can do nothing but sleep. Some may choose that, but we can survive in a more balanced lifestyle.

Joy. If I lived in a country of persecution I would see the great joy in being able to hold and read my Bible. If I lived in a prison where it was forbidden for me to have the fellowship with other Christians I would miss that joy of gathering together. If I lived in one of many other countries I would miss the joy of telling others what God has done in my life. If I lived in China, I would miss the freedom of time to rest, breathe and reflect.

Sadly, I don’t always see these ‘little things’ or these ‘taken for granted’ things as a chance at joy. I know it.  Sometimes we just have to take the time to pull away and look at all the blessings we have for no other reason than because of the country into which we are born. Blessings that yes, we take for granted; blessings that we sometimes see as our ‘rights’ and often don’t value as highly as we should in light of other benefits. But still they are gifts from God and each one a reason to rejoice. 

Paul tells us to be thankful in every situation. He learned this. 

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  (Philippians 4:11-13)

Our song for today is Joy of the Lord by Rend Collective.