Ephesians 5:20 tells us that we should be “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. This is more difficult to comprehend than what I Thessalonians 5:18 says, ” In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I can easily understand that I should be thankful in any situation in which I find myself, as I know that God is with me in it and will bring me through it. And I will emerge from it stronger and wiser if I pay attention to all that transpires. And I understand the need to be thankful for all of the blessings that accrue to me each and every day. That I should be thankful for the negative experiences that I encounter is much less intuitive.  But that is what Ephesians 5:20 seems to be telling me. To always give thanks for all things would certainly include the negative as well as positive occurrences. 

I have been giving more thought lately to this idea of continual and comprehensive thanksgiving. I have been blessed my whole life with good things: a loving, nurturing family as a child, an opportunity to attain two college degrees and to have successful careers in three different industries, a wonderful marriage that has lasted more than 50 years and just keeps getting better, a beautiful, intelligent daughter who has added a wonderful son-in-law and two delightful grandsons to the family. And I have always thanked God for these blessings.

Also, I have been generally very healthy all of my life, with a few notable exceptions. In 1969, at age 46, I was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that with surgically removed at the cost of my left eye. Then last July I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma. It was also surgically removed, with no trace remaining. Both of these were short term events, with no recurrence. In retrospect, I am thankful that God allowed me these experiences, because it has shown me his ability to take me through them and has enabled me to better relate to others experiencing similar events in their lives.

My latest health experience, however, is a somewhat different matter. I lived for over 72 years without the need for any prescription medicines on a continuing basis. I hate to admit it, but I was somewhat proud of that. Then in January of this year, I was diagnosed with hypertension and atrial fibrillation (high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat). I was prescribed three medications to lower my blood pressure and heart rate and to prevent clotting, which could lead to a stroke. I now take those on a daily basis. In addition I have undergone two electrical cardioversions to reset my heart to a regular (sinus) rhythm. I reverted to atrial fibrillation after both of these. I also had a heart monitor inserted into my chest to record my heart rhythm, since I am asymptomatic and cannot tell what my heart is doing without using a pulse oximeter to check it. My cardiologist will discuss further options with me after monitoring this activity for about two weeks.

The bottom line is that I have a chronic health issue for the first time in my life. Whereas previously I have always had any health issues completely resolved in a short period of time with no recurrence, I now have a situation that (barring a miracle) will continue for the rest of my life. While I do not anticipate any significant reduction in my quality of life due to this condition, it is nevertheless something that I will need to learn to live with.

I don’t really know why God has allowed this to happen to me. It could be a form of discipline for my pride in my health (as if it were of my own doing rather than a gift from God). Or it could be something else entirely. I have learned over the years to trust God in whatever situation I find myself, so I believe that his intent in this is for my own good. And I have learned not to resent the negative experiences I have had as I have always been able to learn something from them. As Proverbs 3:11, 12 advises:

11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke,