Life gets busy and it makes it difficult sometimes to make room for the things that are important to us. It takes a little time and effort to learn the art of gratitude.
I came across this scripture recently: Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16.) It served to remind me of what is important in my life at this time, which is best defined in another scripture.
2 Corinthians 1:3&4 says: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I like this. It is perhaps the only way that I can cope with, make sense of and come to terms with the ordeals life brings our way.
My friend Mary always says that is important to be emotionally ready to live life on life’s terms. That’s what life is. We get very little say on what happens and when.
I am learning the art of gratitude. It is what empowers us to move on. It is often a stretch to find something to be grateful for but there is always something, not matter how small.
Another thing that Mary teaches is that we only get 15 minutes a day for self-pity. I know people who spend the greater part of their waking hours on self-pity. There is really no point to throwing a pity party, no matter how bad things get in life. In fact, it only brings you down more. Gratitude is a great tool to use to get you out of that self-pity mode.
I started keeping a gratitude journal a few months ago. It was what I chose to do during a 52 day challenge going on at our church back in late summer. I decided to continue. Some days I really have to stretch to find a gratitude and other days it’s hard to keep the list short.
It’s easy to get caught up in the business of living but gratitude goes along way in keeping out of the self-pity zone.