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 The host closed the door and led the man
further down the hall to another door. This time the door swung open
easily. The man looked inside, the room was almost empty. “And what
room is this,” he asked his host. The host replied, “This room
contains all the times in your life that you said thank you to God
for the gifts you were given.”
The man woke with a start. He was in his warm comfortable bed in his
own bedroom, in his own home that he had bought with money he earned
in a very successful career. Beside him slept his devoted wife who
had been beside him in the good times, the bad, and all points in
between. Down the hallway his children slept. His pride and joy was
his family. But he had to wonder, if he was not thanking God for his
blessings, had he ever thanked his wife, his children, his employer?
Had he shown them an attitude or gratitude or had he taken them all
for granted, just as he had his Lord?
Many of us have probably heard this parable or one similar in recent
times. A similar story has circulated on social media in recent
months perhaps as an attempt to make us think about what we do have
to be thankful for in such difficult times.
Our community has suffered physically with sickness and even death.
We’ve suffered emotionally with depression and isolation. We’ve
suffered financially with unexpected closures and lay-offs and even
loss of jobs. For many of us it’s pretty difficult to be grateful
for what we have, because we are focused on what we have lost.
But, if we can find that attitude of gratitude, we will benefit from
it, and it will make the hardships of the day a little easier to
bear.
If you go online and search “Attitude of Gratitude” you will find it
is not an original idea. There are a number of search results that
lead to some interesting articles and guidance on how to develop
that grateful attitude. Even before the internet though, having an
attitude of gratitude is not an original thought.
Many of us have read and heard Psalms 118:24 “This is the day which
the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
So, in this tough year we have been through, how are we supposed to
rejoice because it is another day the Lord has made?
Well known evangelist and motivational speaker Joyce Meyer had some
tips for getting off to a start simply.
Meyer wrote in her blog, Everyday Answers with Joyce Meyer,
“I want you to try something. As you go about
your day, make a point to be grateful for the things you may
otherwise not even notice.
“For instance, I really like coffee. Sometimes I take a moment in
the morning to thank God for this “little thing” that brings me joy
and comfort.
“Or how about the blessing of having hot water? It’s something we
can easily take for granted, but it makes our lives so much better!
“As you begin to thank God for the seemingly small things in your
life, it will help you to focus on the positive and everything you
do have. As result, you will also be much happier!”
This is a good start and one that is personal. You don’t have to
include anyone else in these acts of gratitude, so you can grow
comfortable with the concept on your own. When you are ready, then
go a step further. While thanking God should be first, thanking
those you interact with daily should not be excluded.
Andrew Merle in the article “How to have an attitude of gratitude”
published by the Huffington Post, talks about the approach of the
author of “The School of Greatness,” Lewis Howes. Merle summed it
up, “An attitude of gratitude means making it
a habit to express thankfulness and appreciation in all parts of
your life, on a regular basis, for both the big and small things
alike.”
He quotes Howes, “If you concentrate on what
you have, you'll always have more. If you concentrate on what you
don't have, you'll never have enough."
Merle included other suggestions found in Howes' book. Howes
encouraged readers to start everyday making a mental note of what
they are grateful for and who. Then, at the end of the day, share
with the people you are with your expressions of gratitude for them.
Also, he says we should acknowledge ourselves,
“Acknowledge yourself for what you have done and accomplished in the
last day/week/month/year. Instead of comparing yourself to others,
give yourself credit for the big and small things you have been
doing!” Merle’s article also
suggested starting a gratitude journal that you can go back and look
at when you are struggling. By writing down every day the things you
are grateful for, you have a record of the blessings that you have
in your life, and that can help balance out the trials you have
endured to get to those blessings.
So, it’s all easier said than done, especially right now. But, the
benefits are worth the challenge. While
several well-known authors agree that having an attitude of
gratitude is good for us, it is also good for those around us.
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Have you ever noticed that when you smile, you make
others smile? When you laugh it may end up being contagious? Well,
when you say "Thank you," it starts a chain reaction that has the
potential to spread throughout the day.
Think about a child who has done well at a game or on a test at
school. How happy is that child when he knows he’s done well? How
much happier is he when someone else acknowledges that he has done
well? It’s the same for all of us. Being acknowledged makes us
happy. It brightens our day, lightens our load and makes us feel
more worthwhile.
When you thank a child for cleaning his or her room, even though
that is a chore they are supposed to do, it brightens their day and
improves their attitude toward the task at hand. When you tell your
spouse you appreciate the work he or she does and the contribution
they make to the household, even though it is a responsibility that
they are expected to take on, it makes it easier to get up and go to
work in the morning.
When you thank the bank teller or the grocery clerk for doing their
job, you are acknowledging that the person is worthwhile, has value
in your life, and offers you something you cannot do yourself.
And, here’s a big one. Now that you know what it is like to be mom
or dad plus a teacher and principal, do you not have a greater
appreciation for those who choose to be teachers and principals?
Have you told them so?
Now that you know our local businesses can be closed in the wink of
an eye, have you thanked them for being open? Yes, we expect them to
thank us when we buy and pay for items, but how nice would it be for
them if you also said thank you?
We all need to be appreciated and in order to be appreciated,
someone has to be grateful. For today, and perhaps for your New Year
resolution, why not try to show your appreciation more often? Why
not try to have an attitude of gratitude, and just see where it
takes you?
We’ll leave you with this poem, the jest of the concept in a little
rhyming nutshell.
An Attitude of Gratitude
By Jan Rau
Choose an attitude of Gratitude.
Apply throughout the day.
With an attitude of Gratitude
Things will flow your way.
Give thanks for things that happen.
Appreciate experiences anew.
Look to your inner guidance
To tell you what to do.
If you focus on the positive
Even though you're feeling bleak
An amazing thing will happen
To your mind within a week.
You will see the brighter side
Your spirits they will lift.
Then you'll realize you have inside
A most amazing gift.
Life is full of challenges
Sometimes they're big, sometimes they're small.
When you train your mind to see the best
You will find your way through all.
Be gentle and persistent,
Tell your mind you are aware
To learn new skills may take some time
But you need never fear.
With your will and a dash of persistence
You will begin to make your way.
Reflect on the things you've accomplished
To give you a boost each day.
From Monday through to Sunday
Gaining momentum through the week
Your actions build upon each other
Bringing the confidence you seek
Take time to re-evaluate
For all that you have done
With an attitude of Gratitude
You have surely won.
How to Have an Attitude of Gratitude
Here is a menu of tactics Merle endorses to help develop this
mindset (just pick a few!):
By Andrew Merle, Contributor
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/
how-to-have-an-attitude-of-gratitude_b_8644102
Joyce Meyer Ministries
Everyday Answers with Joyce Meyer
An Attitude of Gratitude
https://joycemeyer.org/everyday
answers/ea-teachings/an-attitude-of-gratitude
An Attitude of Gratitude
By Jann Rau
https://allpoetry.com/poem/9686641
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