Would you like to be a little bit more alive today? Would you like the dimmer switch to be turned up to full light and full life? One way to be more alive is to be more grateful.
We recently heard a lot about the 1% with the Wall Street occupation. It made me think about the 10% in the story of Jesus healing 10 lepers in the Bible (Luke 17). One came back. One of out ten. 10% gratitude, 90% ungrateful. I sure hope I’m not 90% ungrateful! The healthiest human emotion is gratitude. Being ungrateful means being less than fully alive.
Here’s a tall order: “give thanks in ALL circumstances.” (Bible – 1 Thessalonians 5:18) Not thankful FOR all circumstances, but IN all circumstances.
What does it mean to be thankful in all circumstances? It starts with making a choice, with choosing to be thankful, no matter what. Gratitude is first a decision, then a feeling, then a disposition, and finally a life style. A more alive life. Gratitude is an attitude. You get to choose your attitude. If you don’t have an attitude of gratitude, all you have is ‘an attitude.’
How in the world can I be thankful in all circumstances? I’ll talk about that next.