Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. (Ps. 105:1)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 105:1-7
People often cringe when they hear a baby cry. Whether it is on an airplane, in a restaurant, or just walking down the street, a crying baby is something most people try to avoid. I was one of those people until I worked as a hospital chaplain in an infant intensive care unit. It was always agonizing to watch a baby struggle for breath and sometimes be placed on a breathing ventilator. In those places, I learned to give thanks to God when I heard a crying baby, because cries were generally a sign of strong lungs.
Perspective and experience changed the way I think about crying babies, and both perspective and experience are important features of an attitude of thankfulness. Giving thanks is not always easy. Many times it is downright hard. The way we handle experiences and our perception of events greatly impacts the way that we respond to life. Sure, an earsplitting cry presents an annoyance, especially as they often occur in confined spaces, but a cry also symbolizes new life, a gift from God worthy of thankfulness and celebration. We can choose to focus on inconveniences, or, as the psalmist suggests, we can give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done for us.
Find a new perspective that will bring you a spirit of thankfulness.
Scott Donahue-Martens is a clinical chaplain and served on staff at a Wesleyan church in Massachusetts.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
