From childhood, we are trained to do something that is not only good for others but good for us. It's the simple act of saying, "Thank you."
*Robert Emmons,
a psychology professor at the University of California, Davis, conducted extensive
research on the practice of gratitude. He shares two key components: 1) It’s a
way of affirming the good and/or positive things you have received or that are
around you, and 2) It’s a way of recognizing that others have played a role in
providing goodness in your life. It builds relationships and reduces isolation.
Everyone likes to hear words of appreciation . . . even God!
Are you familiar with Psalm 100? It speaks of joy and gladness, getting us off to a good start. But it also tells us how to enter into God’s presence, and why.
Psalm 100:4-5 (BSB)
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving
And into His courts with praise;
Give thanks to Him and bless His name.
For the LORD is good
And His loving devotion endures forever;
His faithfulness continues to all generations.
It’s been a long time since I read **Corrie ten Boom’s book Tramp
for the Lord, but I’m thinking when she and her sister were in a
concentration camp in Germany, their bunks were filled with fleas or bedbugs. As
irritating as they were, her sister reminded her to be thankful it was those
little creatures that made the guards less inclined to come in.
Thankfulness for little things counts just as much as being
thankful for big things.
Every day is a day to give thanks. It ranks right up
there with Paul’s admonition to be loving, compassionate, patient, and
forgiving. But here’s the challenge . . . he says to “clothe yourself” in these
character traits (Colossians
3:12-15).
There’s nothing automatic about choosing what to wear or
even how to live our lives. That’s why I consider the ability to make personal
choices one more thing for which I’m thankful.
Remember . . . you can never go wrong with an attitude of
gratitude.
*Be
Grateful, Be Sincere, and, Above All, Be Human, by Jason Kiger, STAR News,
November 2024, Peer Support Program, page 13 (Column 2, Paragraphs 2, 3, 4).
**Tramp
for the Lord, by Corrie ten Boom and Jamie Buckingham; Jove Books, Copyright
1978; paperback, I saw a used copy available on Amazon.
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