by Deb Schoenfelder
LIVING IN GRATITUDE
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 228:24)
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 107:1)
Most of us grew up being prompted at a very young age to say “thank you” when given something or when we were the recipient of an act of kindness. At some point the reminders stopped, but hopefully saying thank you did not. What I learned over the years from my mother evolved from saying thank you often and with sincerity and sending handwritten thank-you notes; to understanding by her example that living a life of gratitude makes life richer and sweeter and cushions the blows when times are tough.
What might it look like to practice gratitude on a regular basis? I imagine there is no “one size fits all” formula. For example, you might be a family that asks each person seated at the Thanksgiving table to share something for which they are thankful. Perhaps that tradition could be practiced all year long, for instance, the first of every month or at some other regular interval. Or maybe you could start your day by pausing and thinking of a set number of “things” for which you are grateful. Or it might work better for you to end your day by taking time to list those things for which you are thankful. The number and types of ways to practice gratitude and make it a habit are unlimited!
The following excerpt from the November 2013 issue of Response magazine expresses well the idea that making gratitude a way of life is a healthy choice: “We can choose to live a life in constant appreciation of the goodness that surrounds us. Perhaps a life centered in gratitude is a life that is lived in the fullness of Jesus’ proclamation, ‘Your faith has made you well’.” (p. 12).
Prayer: Loving parent God, may we live in a way that makes thankfulness a part of our everyday life. No matter what our circumstances, our faith and a spirit of gratitude can be at the center of everything we do, say, and think. Thank you, thank you, thank you! AMEN
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