An Attitude of Gratitude
- Emma Ruby
- Nov 21, 2017
- 2 min read
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Gratefulness is defined as, "warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received."
In this world, the idea of being grateful has become an occasional emotion instead of a way of living and a consistent attitude.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we all are starting to make a mental list of things we’re grateful for. We list the obvious ones; our family, our friends, our house, etc. But with that gratefulness list we’re constructing a list of wants for Black Friday. Thanksgiving is a holiday focused around being grateful and content with what you have and in every situation. Black Friday happens the day after Thanksgiving, and people are ready to punch someone in the face over something they want or dump money on things they don’t really need. Let that hit you for a moment. Is gratefulness and contentment really that flighty? Do they really last only one day?
1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of Christ Jesus for you."
For a long time, I kept a gratitude journal. When I hit 1,000 I stopped, but now I realize that I never listed the meaningful things. The little blessings God gives us everyday. Look around you. We are truly living an amazing life. Here are 5 little things I’m grateful for:
A warm drink on a cold day
The Christmas spirit in the air
A good TV show after a long day
The last few beautiful days of fall
The blessed interactions I have with friends and family
So what little blessings are you grateful for today?
We live in a world of first world problems, and many of us don’t know what it means to not have something. So we don’t understand the true essence of gratefulness. It’s become an emotion. On Thanksgiving Day we have an emotion of thankfulness, but emotions are flighty and easily changed. So by the next day we’re ready to buy, and get the things we want because we think it will make us happier. In this world, we’re told to do whatever, and live for whatever or whoever makes us feel happy. Let me tell you one thing, never live for what makes you happy. Happiness comes from the world and it lasts only a moment. Live for Christ, and along with that comes the true essence of joy and contentment. So I urge you, as we head into Thanksgiving have an attitude of gratefulness that will carry on past Thanksgiving break. Let it become a way of living completely and wholly for Christ.
Psalm 136:26, "Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever."
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