Joy from Making Gratitude a Habit

By Words of Hope, Thursday, April 16, 2009

Read: Philippians 1:1-11

I thank my God every time I remember you. (v. 3)

Rick, a friend of mine, worked as a truck mechanic. When a fellow worker got into complaining, Rick would say to him, "Take a deep breath. Heart and lungs still working? Then it's not a bad day." Rick's attitude is like that of the old woman in the joke, who had only two teeth but praised the Lord that they met!

My dad had a standard opening to his supper-time prayer: "Our heavenly Father, we come unto you in the evening hour of this beautiful day." As a kid I would think, "Dad, didn't you notice the rain?" (Or whatever else might have kept it from being a beautiful day in my mind.) But for Dad, weather had nothing to do with it. All the familiar family faces were gathered 'round the table. Work, at least for Dad, was over. There was food to eat, stories to share. It was a beautiful day.

Don Postema writes: "Greed grabs. Gratitude receives. Gratitude takes nothing for granted." In another letter Paul writes, "What do you have that you did not receive?" Think about it. Look in. Look out. Look all around you. Family, friends, food, shelter, health, work, purpose, meaning, salvation-all gifts from the generous hand of God.

Can you be anything but grateful?

Prayer: Great gift-giving God, help me practice being thankful every moment of this day. Amen.

Used with Permission