Monday, November 20, 2023

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In the book, “The Grateful Heart: Living the Christian Message,” the authors ask the question about how can we develop a “disposition of gratitude” throughout all the seasons of our lives. This is such a difficult question that there is an entire book devoted to answer it. The fact of the matter is that most of us only become grateful when we experience the goodness of God. We struggle with the ability to be persistently grateful, despite our lot for the season. We must remember that gratitude is not just saying thank you, but it is having an attitude of gratitude in all things. It is much more than we ever thought.

Have you ever been in the room with a toddler who just received a present? Most of us have. We chuckle when that toddler mumbles “thank you” under his breath, as if saying it is causing him much pain. But we persist in teaching this lesson because we understand its importance. We know that demonstrating gratitude is one of our social graces––a cornerstone of successful relationships. When we teach our children to say thank you, we are reminding them that the person who blessed them was not obligated to give anything to them. This teaches them that the world is not about them. No one HAS to do anything for them but chooses to do so.

Our God wants us to not just have words of gratitude but hearts of gratitude. We must remember that our God does not want us to be self-centered and proud, and it is from that vantage point that we enter an appropriate relationship with him. For He is not bound to do anything for us. He chooses to.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for being patient with me in truly being grateful for what you do for me. Despite the season, let me see your heart and hand at work in my life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Au, W., & Au, N. C. (2011). The Grateful Heart: Living the Christian Message. Paulist Press.