Would you like to be more thankful? I mean – like truly appreciate the things you have now. And doesn’t the world need this example from believers?
I find at times I am thankful, and at other times, I’m like everyone else. So, I can be a grumbler. Certainly, this year could have produced some grumbling tendencies in all of us.
What would it take to learn the secret of contentment – to really be thankful all the time? (Or maybe we should set our goal as “most of the time” to start.)
How to be more thankful:
Consider what we could NOT have that we have now – Make a list of some things we often take for granted, like a toothbrush, socks, flushable toilets and clean drinking water. I have been places and witnessed people get so excited about receiving such things.
Stop comparing ourselves to those who have more than we have – Actually, it might help if we were to compare ourselves to those who have less than we have. That gives us a proper perspective. (Need help? Go to THIS LIST and enter your income. You might be surprised.)
Count our blessings and name them one by one – Make a list of things you are thankful for – your family, your friends, your health, your church, your shelter, your clothes, keep it going as long as you can.
We used to do this as an annual tradition in our home during Thanksgiving weekend. Each of us wrote down our own.
Review God’s promises – There are many and they are good!
(With a simple Google search I found this list from Compassion International.) If you’re a follower of Christ, it looks pretty good, huh?
Keep thankful reminders near– I can easily get distracted by the demands and burdens of this world and lose my thankful heart. So, one way I do this is to place things in my path to remind me of what (often who) I have for which to be thankful.
(It’s why I keep pictures of family members on my desk and why I save encouraging emails.)
Practice giving – It’s amazing what joy can come from being sacrificial. We have less, but the emotions of giving make us feel like we have more. So, give until it feels good.
Think small – Look for the smallest moments of grace. A smile, a lady bug, a gentle breeze, or the beating of your own heart. (Little things are actually big if you look for and value them.)
I know these will work if we practice them.
You can start now.
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This article originally appeared on RonEdmondson.com and is reposted here by permission.