Soul Care - Gratitude
by Mary Elsbury
When was the last time you expressed gratitude for a flat tire? How about an unexpected bill or a disagreement with a friend? Our “normal” response is to fuss, shake our head and ask, “Are you kidding?”
Let’s face it. We all have days when feeling grateful is far from our thoughts. The Apostle Paul knew that we struggle with finding joy in our circumstances. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, he encourages us to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Now I’m thinking, “You have got to be crazy! I don’t have the money to pay (fill in the blank)! And (insert name of friend/co-worker/spouse/child) is just wrong! There’s no way that I am feeling good about this!”
The dictionary definition of gratitude is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness” (Oxford Dictionary). Psychology has typically understood gratitude as a spontaneous feeling, but research is showing its value as a practice.[1] That means we need to make a conscious effort to count our blessings. Studies show that practicing gratitude curbs the use of negative words and emotions and shifts inner attention away from resentment and anger, which can be signs of depression.
I read a book a few years ago that helped shift from a “me” focus to a God-focused life. In One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp writes about discovering a way of seeing grace that opens your eyes to a way of living that is fully alive and is a way of becoming present with God that brings deep and lasting joy. She noted that it is only in the expression of gratitude for the life we already have that we can discover the life we've always wanted. She simply reminds us that we are loved by God regardless of the circumstances you face.
Developing gratitude is important because it helps us see the world as much bigger than just ourselves. When stress and pressure start getting to me, I often go outside and stare at the sky. It helps shift my perspective to all that God has created and helps me focus on the fact that he is always with me in good times and bad.
Putting gratitude into practice is simple. Look around. It’s much easier to see things after a troubling encounter, but we always need to have an awareness while we are going through trials. Spend time around people that love and support you. When you have a problem, go to God in prayer. He should always be you first line of defense. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deut. 31:8). After that, talk to someone – maybe a spouse, pastor, friend, or counselor can help you develop a plan to overcome the issue.
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by using a journal to write down three things you are thankful for daily. Put your thanks into words and send a card to someone for no reason other than to express gratitude. Think about how your life would change if some positive event had not occurred.
Thanksgiving and gratitude should be daily events. In a world where kindness is in short supply, become an encouragement to others by cultivating a joyous and grateful heart.
