Thankfulness

This morning I visited briefly with a young lady. At one point in our conversation I said, “It is only by the Grace of God, that I am standing here before you”. There have been some scary times and unexpected situations in my life, and I am so very thankful for God’s great graces, protection, and mercy that I have come to this place in my life.

There is so much we can be thankful for. Zig Ziglar coined the phrase “attitude of gratitude”. He said, “Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life changing”. There are many references in the Bible about being thankful and giving thanks. Here are just three of the multitude of references to being thankful:
-1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus”.
-1 Chronicles 16:34 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose love endures forever”.
-Colossians 1:10 says, “Pray perseveringly, be attentive to prayer, and pray in a spirit of thanksgiving”.

What is attitude of gratitude? It is where an individual makes it a habit of being thankful in all aspects of life, no matter how great or small things might be. In any given situation there is something to be thankful for. We are usually thankful for gifts we receive from others, a compliment, a favor, maybe even a phone call, a letter, a thought felt card in the mail, or a pleasant greeting and smile from a stranger. But what about those times something negative happened? Must one be thankful for the bad times? When the bad times do happen, what was the outcome? How did it change and shape who you are today? Did it result in a way that makes life a bit difficult or easy?

What are the benefits of having an attitude of gratitude? When an attitude of gratitude is practiced lives change. Lives turn in a positive direction. We become more optimistic, more spiritual, more confident, less materialistic, and less self-centered, just to name a few. As a result of this we are happier and more joyful. Our way of thinking changes for the better, our health improves physically, emotionally, and spiritually, our careers start to have some positive changes, along with our relationships. Overall, we eventually exude and radiate happiness.

This can be contagious, our actions and what we say can have an affect on those we encounter throughout our day. Here is an example. Have you ever struggled as you started your work day, or have been frustratingly shopping in a mall or grocery store, when all of a sudden someone looks at you, smiles, and says, “good morning” or “have a great day”? In that moment you might think of your task at hand and shake your head. But, the more you think about it the more likely you will in turn say the same to someone who crosses your path. It’s contagious, and a great way to spread joy.

Developing an attitude of gratitude is not easy, but with practice it can happen. There are many roads to developing and honing this attribute. Here are a few steps towards having that attitude of gratitude:
-When you wake up in the morning, look into the mirror and tell yourself what or who you are thankful for.
-After a tough moment during your day, take a deep breath and think about something positive you are thankful for as a result of that moment.
-Instead of comparing yourself to others, give yourself credit for what you have accomplished that day.
-Let someone you know that you appreciate them, mention a specific characteristic about them or one of their recent accomplishments.
-At the end of the week list some people you have spent time with or encountered who you are thankful for, and if you are able to, let them know.
-Acknowledge gifts you have been given, no matter how big or small, especially those gifts you cannot touch.
-The most common recommendation is to have an attitude of gratitude journal. Reflecting on what you are thankful for in writing is an eye opener.
-Take a quiet moment at the end of your day and thank the Creator for all your blessings of the day.

Try some of these, if not all of the above recommendations to help you develop and improve your attitude of gratitude. Take note of any changes you experience in your relationships, your career, health, and your spirituality. And later, come back and share your experiences, maybe make your own recommendations. Let me know what you think, like or don’t like, what worked and what didn’t work.

Have a thankful and glorious week!