Gratitude Attitude By Ashley McIlwain

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude. It’s a time to reflect, not on what we don’t have, but rather, what we do have. It is a time to stop, smell the roses, and then be thankful that they exist and we are endowed with a nose to smell, eyes to explore, and hands to feel them.

Unfortunately, many people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the kickoff to the holiday season and forget what all of it is really about. We become frantic preparing meals, packing suitcases, writing out cards, shopping, and before we know it, we have sucked the very joy out of the season. We forget the very reason for preparing that big meal, packing that suitcase, writing out those cards, and grabbing those gifts and groceries.

Thanksgiving was not designed to break us emotionally, mentally, and physically, but rather to encourage, uplift, and strengthen us as we reflect on all of the wonderful things in our lives. It is that time of year where we can step back and realize just how blessed we really are. No matter what circumstances you find yourself in, there is always an overwhelming presence of things to be thankful for.

Personally, I know that God has blessed me beyond belief. While it can be forgotten or lost at times, all it takes is sitting down for five minutes with a pen and paper in hand, and the list of things to be grateful for exceeds my ability to write quickly enough. And while it is easy to think of all those things we don’t have – that new car, the big house, that perfect wardrobe, that fabulous gadget – the truth is, those are the things that don’t really matter or enhance our lives in the long run. It is that loving spouse who works so hard to provide, brightens your day with a smile, shares a long list of memories with you, and brings fulfillment to our longing hearts. It is that beautiful family who is always there for you, provides support for your dreams, cares about your struggles, and feels pride when they talk about you to others. It is the simple fact that you have your health – it may not be perfect, but you have arms, hands, fingers, legs, knees, toes, lungs, and air to breath. It is the realization that you have a roof over your head. It is a stroll outside that enlivens your senses with the overwhelming beauty of God’s creation.

It is easy to forget about those simple things that are the true essence of what living is. Those are the things that make life possible and worth living. Those are the things that we should stop taking for granted and start appreciating. There is always a lot to be thankful for; it is a matter of choosing to be thankful for them.

Gratitude is a discipline that we must teach ourselves. Gratitude entails expressing our thankfulness for the blessings in our life. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Bible tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Just like most things in life, it requires a choice and then an intentional effort to be and express gratitude for those people and things we have been blessed with in our life.

All too often we allow the joy of living to be stolen from us in our search for more and better than what we already have. You turn on the television and are plagued with advertisements touting products that we must have in order for our lives to be complete. You open a magazine, and 75% of it are images and messages of items that will finally make our lives complete. The reality is that there is no product or item out there that can make your life complete or fulfilled. Life isn’t about how much junk we can accumulate; it’s about appreciating what we already have and valuing the things that are invaluable like our marriage, family, and friends.

We so easily get caught up in the vicious cycle that we will finally be happy and content when we get there when in fact we will get there and find out we now want to get there. As our pastor Kenton Beshore mentioned in his Thanksgetting message, “Contentment is here, not there!” Philippians 4:11 says, “…I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” Everything we have is a gift from God himself, and if we begin to change our perspective to align with that, we will be left with a gratitude attitude. First, we have to make that decision to view things as a gift from God, appreciate them, and be thankful for them.

Psalm 118:24 & 29 continue to tell us of the importance of thankfulness, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it…Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” It is easy to find ourselves deceived by Satan that we always need just one more thing or that God is not good because He is holding something back from us. God has given us all that we need and then some, now it’s time to realize, acknowledge, and express praise for that fact. We are told how to posture ourselves in Psalm 103: 1-2, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.”

It is up to us to make the decision to be content and thankful people. Express this gratitude to God for all of His provisions, and express it to your loved ones to help them feel valued and appreciated. A simple thank you can make a world of difference in someone’s life, especially in those that love you so very much. We all need to feel valued and appreciated.

It’s time to put your money where your mouth is so-to-speak. While it is nice to receive thanks, it is more important that we give thanks. Hence, Thanksgiving. Here is what I recommend you do to take on a Gratitude Attitude:

  1. Make a list right now of ten things you are thankful for.
  2. Now, take the time to say a little prayer to God and thank Him for each of those ten things.
  3. Make a list of ten people you are thankful for. (There may be a little overlap)
  4. Call, message, or tell each of those people that you are thankful for them and why.

This is an easy and practical way to get started on being thankful. Sometimes it’s just taking the time to think about what we are thankful for. I would encourage you to do this, not just at Thanksgiving, but on a minimum of a monthly basis. It will make all the difference in changing how you feel about life, and it will surely help those around you to feel loved and appreciated, which can’t hurt your relationships!

Copyright © 2011, Foundation Restoration.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No reproduction allowed without written permission from Foundation Restoration and/or the author.