Giving thanks....

As yet another winter storm looms just to our west, I was struggling this morning to feel thankful.  There are some very important events coming up in the next couple of days, a funeral for my cousin with extended family arriving from distant places and my daughter's long awaited quick weekend visit, and the weather threatens to disrupt the plans.  But in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are admonished to

"...give thanks in all things, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  (NIV)

It is easy to be thankful when things are going well, to tell God we are glad for all the blessings we have been given.  It is harder when times are tough - death, divorce, serious illness, job loss, homelessness - to find a reason to be grateful.