It’s easy to complain and see all the things not as they should be. And these might be needed and legitimate issues to address. But it becomes depressing to only focus on what’s wrong in life. The practice of gratitude opens our hearts to see and appreciate the good as well.
It’s no secret that we’re living through trying times. At every turn we see many things not as they should be – from social divisions and violence, to uncertainty in our relationships and untimely deaths.
To be sure, it’s hard to be grateful during such dark and heavy days.
But this is where the power of gratitude becomes our lifeline.
As we practice the discipline of being grateful, we renew our hearts and minds to see the good all around us.
Gratitude teaches us to see all that God has already done for us and reminds us to live in hope for all the good still to come.
This is not to deny the hardship and struggle we still experience. But gratitude refuses to let these be the only voices in our story.
From the joy of basking in the sunshine and the wonder of the night sky, to the play and laughter of our children and the kind smile of a stranger, there are countless things to be thankful for every day.
And we allow ourselves to fall deeper into despair when we don’t learn to live with gratitude in our hearts.
In fact, in this way, gratitude serves as an antidote to the spirit of darkness and despair so prevalent during these times.
While we don’t choose the time we live in and the things we will face, we get to choose where we focus our attention. And adopting a spirit of gratitude gives us the power to live in hope and serve as lights in a dark generation.
Renew your soul and change the world by living in the power of gratitude.
Photo by Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash
