Gratitude
Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. When we actively seek out those things and circumstances we are grateful for what we do not have become less important. To be grateful is to be kind, to be appreciative not only for what others have done, but for what you yourself have done. In doing so, you will honor The Lord and find yourself thankful for all that you have.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:11
It is hard to put aside our negative thoughts and some of us have circumstances in our lives that make being grateful even harder. How is it possible to be grateful when you are homeless, hungry or disease, or disabled? How is it possible to be thankful for those things? It is not. One is cannot be grateful for those things that are negative in their lives. We are human. It is okay to grieve the bad, the negative, but it is not okay to dwell.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous.
When focused on that which we do have the results are often a life lived without regrets, with love and a full heart. Making a list of those things we can be grateful for is a fine start. My list until I got the hang of this gratitude thing looked similar to this:
1. I woke up
2. I didn’t do anything wrong
3. I have food.
It was a while before I could find 10 things to add to my gratitude list. Yet, my list grew and grew until I could easily name 10 things to be grateful for. When I wrote my list or went through it in my head first thing in the morning, my day, while not always rainbows and sunshine, was easier and I remain happy.
“I try hard to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful heart cannot entertain certain conceits. When brimming with gratitude, one’s heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the finest emotion that we can ever know.” AS BILL SEES IT, p. 37
“An honest regret for harms done, a genuine gratitude for blessings received, and a willingness to try for better things tomorrow will be the permanent assets we shall seek. Having so considered our day, not omitting to take due note of things well done, and having searched our hearts with neither fear nor favor, we can truly thank God for the blessings we have received and sleep in good conscience.” Pg. 95 12×12
?❤️?
Thank you!