Gratitude

I am sure you have heard it often - "The attitude of gratitude." It is a saying that is often used in the 12-Step recovery moment. The reason it is used so much is becasue people in recovery know that if their focus on what is wrong with life resentments develop easily, and in the work of staying clean and sober resentments will kill. So people in recovery often say this saying to themselves and each other as a reminder to be thankful for all they have, even when things seem bad because it may actually be teaching them something they need to know to remain clean.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

How often are we thankful and practice this "attitude of gratitude." We have the chance to wake up everyday and say to ourselves "Good God morning," or "Good morning God." Which is the way that you greet your life? Are we thankful for every circumstance in our life? Cheerfulness if a great gauge of our spiritual connection. So is thankfulness. As this verse states this is the way that we should live and the way that belong, or maintain, our connection to our Lord. Everyday we have the choice to be thankful that we can give to those around us, or resentful that they do not notice what we do. I would challange you to see that when you help someone and they do not say thanks or notice, that you can be thankful for the opportunity to give to them rather than upset that your efforts were not seen. This is the attitude of gratitude in action in your life. This is the mind of Christ that I talk so much about in Philippians 2. This is the art of sacrifice and unselfishness. It all flows from being grateful that we have the chance to be like Christ, in a real way to people around us. We lose our life to find our life. This is so opposite of the world that we live in. The world where people demand their rights, stand up for themselves, and get angry when someone does not care for them like they think they should.

Be grateful today. Give thanks in all things today. Be thankful for the person who cuts in line or cuts in front of you in the traffic. When these things happen they may be saving you from a disaster. Be thankful that you have the opportunity to give to others without them noticing. It teaches us how to be joyful, cheerful, and unselfish.

Namaste'