Giving Thanks

Gratitude has the power to transform our attitude and outlook on life. Gratitude is like a person traveling to their destination guided by GPS. To the contrary, the ungrateful struggles to reach his destination, making wrong turns, backtracking, and turning on one-way streets the wrong way. Most of all, he does not enjoy the journey, yelling at those in his way and blaming everyone but himself for his frustrating trip. Gratitude is like a power transformer, converting the powerful electrical current into usable electricity your house needs. Gratitude takes everything that comes at us and makes sense of it.

Have you noticed how being upset about something can change your whole day, while being thankful can make it better? For example, you find yourself anxious about a problem at work, waiting for it to get your attention. The more you think about it, the more nervous and irritated you become. Conversely, suppose you begin your day thinking about how fortunate you are to have your job. It’s a stable job that provides you with a good income despite the challenges that come along. Just thinking about what you have, rather than what you do not have, changes your mood. You are a very different person when you arrive at your workplace. Gratitude actually changes the way we think, act, and even look. It can even put a smile on your face. Gratitude gives a person a sense of purpose and adds meaning to their life.

This is a favorite holiday for many of us because it is a time to get together with family and relax. Even more, it is a time to reflect on the things we have to be thankful for. Life has a way of keeping us occupied, leaving us with very little time to reflect on our many blessings. Modern-day marketing focuses on what we do not have, thus making us incomplete until we buy what they promise will complete us. It is a strategy that has made billions for businesses but has left the consumer feeling very empty. The truth is that our contentment is not found in this world. It is found in our Creator. The more we know him, love him, and serve him, the more content we find ourselves.