~ Grace Gift ~
An Attitude Of Gratitude
Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast
by turning. James 1:17
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes
to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have
contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your
gratitude.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
I wanted to share with all of you how feeling grateful for the things
in my life has changed me. As I was growing up, I won’t say that I was
a negative person, but I certainly focused on what was wrong more than
on what was right. And I really don’t know why I was this way. My family were happy and positive people, so it’s not like I was surrounded
by negativity. But for some reason, even though I had a happy
childhood, I would get angry and upset when things didn’t go the way I
thought that they should.
Anyway, over the last two to three years I
have totally changed my focus and have decided to really look on the
bright side, find the silver lining, and realize how fortunate I am!
Maybe because I’m older and wiser, or as I look back over my life I’m
finding that things really aren’t that bad. I have decided to CHOOSE to
be happier, and to be thankful for each and every blessing that I have
received. I’ve learned that when you focus on all of the great things
you have in your life, it helps to shift your focus and get you to see
things in a different light.
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” ― John F. Kennedy
Even though I feel overwhelmed at times, I find that being grateful for challenges changes my perspective. For example, I have so many fabulous
friends, some of whom have recently re-surfaced in my life and I really
haven’t been in contact with since high school. Friendship is
something to treasure, and old friends are the absolute best! They know
all about the city where you grew up, the house you lived in and the
pets you had, your parents and siblings and especially the schools you
went to as they were all there with you along the way. It’s a
connection that’s unbreakable, and it’s something that others aren’t
able to relate to. I don’t know where I would be without my friends,
both old and new, and I hope that I have been able to sprinkle their
lives with as much love and encouragement as they have with mine!
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the
charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ― Marcel Proust
Another thing I have is a Gratitude Jar and I’m reminded on a daily basis of new things to add. The
benefits of this have been amazing for me, and I highly recommend this
practice for everybody. I promise that you, too, will be amazed at the
difference in your everyday outlook and mood! The cool thing is that
you can focus on a certain subject that you feel grateful for, or you
can just randomly write down whatever comes to your mind. I promise you
will never have a shortage of things to write! I find that once I get
going, ideas just keep on coming, and focusing joyfully on all that I’ve
written instantly brightens my day.
I hope that you will all take some time to try this practice, and I believe that this can be life-changing for you!
It's good to be alive!
Thank You, Lord.
