Gratitudes
BIBLICAL POINT OF REFERENCE:
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
~2 Corinthians 9:15
It’s that time of year again, SheCanLaugh readers: Thanksgiving!
I don’t know about you, but this year has been a year of learning how to be more grateful for me. Perhaps the opportunity to learn gratefulness has been larger this year since I’ve had to go through so many changes in life, or maybe I’ve just been made more aware of the power of being thankful. Either way, I’ve had to learn a lot, and what I’ve found might surprise some of you.
Here is a solid list of reasons why being thankful has changed my attitude on life.
Being thankful forces us to notice the small and positive gifts that God has given us. There are millions of gifts we take for granted on a daily basis: Good weather, food, ability to use our 5 senses, etc. While the big things tend to be more impressive and eye-catching, the small things deserve some notice and gratitude. I’m proud to say that I’ve found some strange things to be thankful for, things that are so small but so important to praise God for. This includes, but is not limited to: rain, hot tea, a good hair day, granola bars, sweatshirts, my favorite mug, and glasses. This all being said, what is something strange or small that you could give thanks for?
Starting your day with being thankful can really turn your day around. Over the last couple of months, I’ve been starting my day with listing (on paper) three things I’m thankful for. The goal is to try and write three different things from day to day so that you spread the love, and so that you take some time in the morning to remember what a wonderful life God has given you. By remembering the good things in life at the beginning of the day, my mood improves throughout. I start on a good note, so my chances of ending on a good note are higher. Even when things go wrong, it’s easier to get through them when you replay your gratitude list in your mind. Ironically enough, that’s what I call my morning list of thanks: "Gratitudes."
Being thankful is easy the longer you practice thankfulness. Now that I’ve been writing my Gratitudes every morning for a few months, it’s easier to find more and more ways that God has blessed me. His list of gifts is abundant, ongoing, and absolutely wonderful. I’ve even developed a habit of giving thanks outside of my morning gratitudes; it’s great to be able to recognize when God is putting something wonderful in front of me! This, however, goes both ways: We need to give thanks to God when we win, and thanks to God when we lose. No exceptions, no excuses.
If you’re having trouble this Thanksgiving with being grateful for what God has given you, try listing 10 small things that you are thankful for. Give yourself time to reflect on what you truly want to praise God for, and remember that, most importantly, we have been given an abundance of love.
Stay grateful, sisters!
Your Laughing Sister,
Callahan
Check out the BEING GODLY WOMEN quotes page for more inspiration!
