I've been a tennis fan my whole life.  My usual routine was to get up early every day, play for a couple of hours and on the weekends I would play all day.

One of those occasions, I was getting ready to go play at 5:30 in the morning;  After having breakfast and getting ready, I was about to leave the house when a storm started and I knew I would not be able to play.  I returned to the room disappointed, and my wife told me "It's good that it rained for you to stay with me." I got mad at her and respond shouting saying that she was selfish, a bad woman, among other things, for not wishing that I could play.

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

My eagerness to play tennis and focus my attention on what I liked, did not allow me to hear what my wife was really saying to me.  I didn't see what was really important in my life.  Tennis was one of many things that I put above my family.

How many things in our day to day rob us of what is really important?  It can be work, a project, studies, a trip, money.  We focus so much on taking care of those things that we can neglect those we love.  We have many people in our life that we should be grateful for and care for, because those are the true blessings.  Everything else is replaceable or arrives somehow.

I recognized that God had given me my wife, my children, my family, friends, etc.  What was I putting above them?  What can be so important to sacrifice my relationship with those around me?  I almost stayed with tennis, but without a wife and without a family.

This happened about ten years ago.  Years later I apologized to my wife and I still do when we share our testimony.  Today I play less tennis, and if a plan is damaged by rain, I thank God and run back to the arms of the one who no longer has to tell me that is waiting for me.

Be thankful for everything!  God bless you.