Gratitude a life-changing attitude

  The Luke 11:9 series: Gratitude, a life-changing attitude

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Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. [I Chronicles 16:34]

Amidst the depressing news of endless wars, divisive politics, ever-increasing gaps between rich and poor, and global warming, there is no shortage of reasons to be despondent .. but it doesn't have to be that way. It all starts will a mindset that looks for the blessings not difficulties in life ... it's an attitude called gratitude! 

You've heard it being said, 'There are those who, having lost a loved one, feel a deep piercing sense of loss, while there were times living together they'd find their quirky mannerisms most irritating. There are those without a partner who yearn for one, but so many couples slip into a pattern of arguing and fault-finding, often neglecting the many blessings and good qualities.  

The key is to be grateful for the many graces and blessings bestowed on you, look carefully at what you have and understand that somewhere, someone would gladly trade places with you in a heartbeat. The hungry would give anything for a plate of food that the well-fed find unsatisfactory. Many don't have a job, home or car, while the one who has, is unsatisfied, constantly looking for a better one.

As St Paul reminds us, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." [Colossians 3:15,17]

Nature walks

Bounties of the garden

Gratitude that we are all together, safe and sound. Enjoying family time like gardening, movie nights, board games and cookouts exploring cuisines from around the world. Plenty to be thankful for ...

Lords of Water Deep, Star Wars Rebellion and Obsession

South Asian laksa, Portuguese bacalao and Japanese ramen

St Paul tells us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." [Philippians 4:6-7]

Gifts of grace are to be treasured as we learn from I Timothy 4:4-5, "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

In the words of the wonderfully gifted self-help guru and maven Melody Beattie ...

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. 

It turns what we have into enough, and more. 

It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. 

It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
And I would add this thought — that without gratitude, you can turn any paradise into hell.
Without gratitude, you will always walk away from the table still starving — no matter what measure of abundance has been laid before you.
Without gratitude, 

every job is the worst job on earth, 

every spouse is deficient, 

every friend lets you down, every home is on the wrong street, 

every gift is the wrong size, every novel is full of typos, every mattress is uncomfortable, 

every cup of coffee is too weak.

Without gratitude, every choice you ever made will always feel like the wrong choice.
Without gratitude, 

summers will always be too hot; 

winters will always be too cold. 

The music will always be too loud, 

the movie will always suck, 

the teenagers will always be too rude.

Without gratitude, people who vote or worship differently from you will always be monsters in your eyes. 
Without gratitude, you will always feel you were born into the wrong family. 
Without gratitude, the waitress will always be too slow, 
and you will always get the worst seat on the bus. 
Without gratitude, every driver on the road except you is an idiot.
Without gratitude, life is A Misery.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." [Luke 12:22-34]

I shared this article with my friend circle on New Year's Eve 2020 and here is what my dear friend and role model the 101-year-old-who-is-young-at-heart had to say ... "I enjoyed your piece on gratitude, and completely agree with it! At 101 years old my heart is filled with gratitude for all the blessings I have received in my life. A wonderful faithful husband, five healthy and now productive children and relatively good health until very recently yes my heart is filled with gratitude. When I start feeling sorry for myself, I may return that coin and I am grateful, and I relax and feel close to my Lord. Blessings" ~ Madeline O'Neill (Friend from Faith sharing group)

Piglet noticed that even though he had a small heart, it could hold a large mount of gratitude ~ A A Milne (Author of Winnie the Pooh)

Reference

Beattie, Melody. “Melodie Beattie - Gratitude.” Melody Beattie, 25 Aug. 2021, melodybeattie.com/category/gratitude.

Footnote

This series of posts, which I call, 'The Luke 11:9 Series', is an attempt to verbalise various aspects of my Catholic faith as revealed in Scripture; topics include Destination Heaven; Golden ticket; God's Grace; Seeds of Love; Mary, did you know?; Feel the love of God; Love your neighbour as yourself, The Good Shepherd; Receive the Sacraments often; Eucharistic Adoration; Communion of Saints; How to pray; Role-playing Scripture; Mary, Help of Christians; Understanding suffering; Forgiveness; Gratitude, the life-changing attitude; Life after death; One Body of Christ; and Hearts ablaze. I sincerely hope it helps you in your faith journey. Always turn to the Holy Spirit when you search for answers to your questions, because Luke 11:9 says, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."