It’s November already—a month that beckons us to pause for a moment and recall our blessings. Experts agree that a grateful heart is good for you and those around us. Bestselling mental strength author Amy Morin agrees, “being thankful throughout the year could have tremendous benefits on your quality of life.”
Not only does fostering a grateful heart have benefits, but it’s also biblical.
A grateful attitude is free and requires little time. A simple “Thank you,” to the harried clerk takes but a moment. A prayer of thanks for a parking spot at the shopping mall takes a matter of seconds. We can all afford to change our grumbling to gratitude and share it with those around us. My negative attitude will not go unnoticed, nor will a grateful attitude.
Gratitude reminds us of the Giver of every perfect gift. Our God desires to give us good things. Why? Because He delights in us. What parent doesn’t want to give their child good gifts? If we pause and notice, we’ll discover His gifts are everywhere. This weekend I marveled at red, yellow, and orange leaves drifting toward the ground, a wandering deer, a dog cuddling on my lap, a warm cup of tea on a chilly day, and a water-colored sunset. Some days it helps to take our eyes off our worries and look up and around instead.
A grateful heart produces joy for you and others. When we are thankful, we want to share with others. As a recipient of others’ thoughtfulness, joy bubbles up in our spirit. I have a friend who loves to cook. If I tell her I don’t need a meal, I steal her joy, and I don’t experience the joy of receiving, which is a form of gratitude. Not only do I enjoy her amazing cooking, but I’m also a recipient of her joyful spirit.
Thanksgiving ushers us into God’s presence. The psalmist tells us to enter into His presence by thanking Him. Try implementing thanksgiving into your daily prayer life and see if you don’t experience greater intimacy with God. After church service, I’m always in a better mood, but we can experience His peace and comfort every day through thanksgiving.
When the brokenness of the world weighs us down, gratitude lifts us. Our neighbors notice when we seek thanksgiving in our chronic illness, a divorce, or a wayward teenager. They might even ask how we stay joyful when life wears us down. We can then witness God’s goodness.
Research shows that a positive attitude results in a healthier body. Morin found that grateful people experience fewer aches and pains, take time to care for themselves, and sleep better. Who doesn’t want that?
Recalling people and things we are thankful for reduces comparisons. Why not start a time of thanksgiving around the dinner table? Everyone could share one thing they are grateful for that day.
Let’s move into this holiday season, counting our blessings and continuing the habit throughout the year. It’s biblical and for our benefit and others.
Let’s stay connected. What or who are you thankful for?