Live With a Thankful Heart
In this rushed world we live in today, full of desires and wants, it can be so easy to forget about or overlook everything we already have within our own hands. You can become consumed by the idea of having more “stuff” to the point that you are never happy with anything you have. Thankfulness is underrated and not nearly used enough. 1 Chronicles 16:34 says, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercyendures forever.”
Look for the good things
One of the reasons why so many find it terribly difficult to be thankful is because they can’t see anything good in their life. Chances are, they have experienced some difficult circumstances in life that have clouded their vision and blocked their view of the positive side of life.
If you can’t seem to see anything good, perhaps it’s because you’re just not looking for it. It is always much easier to see or find the bad in every situation. It’s not quite as easy to find something good in a problem. But once you start looking, it will become easier every time to see the good in every situation.
Keep a gratitude journal
A really simple and easy way to keep thankfulness alive in your heart is to write in a gratitude journal every day. This journal does not need to be filled with long pages of dialogue. Rather, you can just create simple lists each day of all the little things you are grateful for. Note: Nothing is too small to be included in a gratitude journal.
Say, “Thank you”
Two simple words are slowly being eradicated from our vocabulary. Those two little words—thank you—are quite possibly two of the most powerful words in our language. They can move mountains and change attitudes. Yet, we say them too few times. Practice giving thanks, for everything you receive.
Give, expecting nothing in return
The best way to experience a thankful heart is to practice the fine art of giving, just for the fun of it. When was the last time you gave someone a gift without expecting anything in return? This world is filled with way too many people who give with strings attached. Give random gifts (anything small will do just fine) just because you want to. The gratitude and thanks you receive from this gift-giving will teach you lots about living with a thankful heart.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2008 Hope Wilbanks
