It’s a simple concept. In fact, it almost seems trite. How many times throughout life have we been told to be grateful for what we have? Yet, gratitude, even in its most elementary, basic form, works. It causes us to think about our blessings and the Source of our blessings, and in those thoughts we find true affection for God and all that He’s done.
I’ll give you a small example of how this has worked in my own heart lately. When I start thinking too much about my appearance, when I get upset about extra pounds or wrinkles or gray hair, I’ve begun to stop and thank God for my body. I thank Him for health and strength, and for the fact that I have a body that can do pretty much anything that I want to do today. It’s amazing how that small prayer of gratitude, uttered in a moment of doubt about the goodness of my body, creates a shift in my heart and mind. It brings me a sense of energy and joy, and it helps me to remember how God has blessed.
It works for most any situation, too. The spiritual shift is palpable. Gratitude really does breed peace, joy, appreciation, affection, deeper love, and a stronger connection to our Savior. It pushes out negativity and takes us from stuck in a bad pattern of thought to a place where we can think about things that are good, noble, right and lovely (Philippians 4:8). As an old school teacher of mine used to say, we’ve got to fix our “stinkin’ thinkin’,” and the fastest and most effective way to do it is to turn to thoughts of gratitude.
Right now I’m in the middle of lasts with my second born. He’ll graduate high school in just a few days, and by August he’ll be off to new adventures. I know from having already done this once that when these kids are gone, they’re really gone. So as each step of his last few months and weeks and now days of high school have arrived, I’ve wrestled with my own mind. Trust me, I could sit down and cry for a day or two and look at old pictures and wish that I could bring back days of his childhood. But I’m choosing not to dwell on days long past when he was just a little fella following me around the house. Instead I’ve been thanking the Lord that I’m here and that I have gotten to witness this phenomenon of a little boy growing into a man. I’ve been thanking Him for all that He’s done and continues to do in my son’s life. Just these small thought adjustments, from longing for the past to enjoying the present God has given me, have made all the difference in how I experience this season.
All kinds of disappointments and tough times have more pockets of joy when gratitude is at the forefront. Let’s be honest—I’m well aware when my thinking is bad and when my attitude is ruining my outlook. Grateful prayers cause that much-needed shift that helps me recognize what I have instead of what I don’t. It’s amazing how quickly it happens–God does special things inside of us when we praise Him, and the more I look for reasons to be grateful, the more He shows me reasons.
Paul told the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always. On days when disappointment or sadness threaten to overwhelm my thoughts, it only takes a few prayers of gratitude, even if prayed through tears, to change my outlook and find joy in who God is and what He’s doing in my life, in my heart, and in the world around me. The hardest days can produce the most meaningful moments of gratitude. I’m learning, slowly but surely. And I thank God that He keeps teaching me how much joy there is tucked away inside the things that I sometimes wish were different.
