Choosing Gratitude And Why It Matters

Take an honest reflection of your thoughts and actions from the past 72 hours and answer this question.  . . . . . . . . . . . .  If a  monument was going to be erected with your  “Gratitude Thoughts & Actions,” how big would the plaque have to be? . . . . . . . . . . .  Monument of “Gratitude” in Gryfice (Poland) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Cultivating a thankful heart is a safeguard against becoming

• bitter,
• prickly, and
• sour.

A grateful child of God can’t but help but be a joyful, peaceful, radiant person.” (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Choosing Gratitude, p 17)

Choosing gratitude is more than something I write about on Friday’s Fave Five.  

It is more than something happy people do.

It is more than a positive habit.

Choosing to keep gratitude in my life protects my thinking from becoming ugly. This in turn protects my actions from becoming ugly.

What is the ugly I am talking about? It certainly includes being bitter, prickly, and sour. Read on for more ugliness from Nancy DeMoss, Choosing Gratitude, p 17.

“I have seen how a lack of gratitude manifests itself in fretting, complaining, and resenting – whether within the confines of my own thoughts or, worse yet, through venting those thoughts to others.”

I am prone to worrying and fretting. Like right now I am worrying and fretting about the upcoming women’s retreat. This book (Choosing Gratitude) has reminded me that this is a sin. I think too little of God and His power and purposes for me and Retreat. I think too little on His LOVE for me and each Retreat attendee.

Instead of worrying and fretting, I choose to be grateful. Why? So that I can have a calm interior and influence on those around me. . . . So that I can more easily hear God’s leading. . . . So that I can recognize the good around me and thank my Creator God for that good. . . . So that I can keep my focus on God and the eternal perspective.

Here are some things I am grateful for pertaining to the upcoming Retreat.

1. A gentle, computer whiz made sure our music videos are in a form we can use (Bryce).
2. We have two awesome speakers (Jenny and Shula).
3. We have a very capable person taking care of sound (Pam).
4. Two fun and talented ladies are leading us in singing along with music videos (Gillian and MaryJo).
5. Two of the women’s ministry team will be at Retreat with me and they are great at handling details and loving others (LaRee and Reggie).
6. God will definitely help me when I present my portion at the Retreat because He LOVES us too much to NOT DO so.

Whew. I am already breathing much more easily. And my thoughts are not so turbulent. I am feeling God’s Presence and guiding for this moment. And that’s what I need to be concerned about – THIS moment. “Thank you, Lord!”

Your Turn . . . 

1. Why do you choose to be grateful?
2. Do you have any of  the above mentioned ugly attitudes like being bitter, prickly, and sour? Are you involved in fretting, complaining, and resenting … and venting? 
3. What will you do about it today?

Related Posts . . . 

• 3 Benefits of Month-Long Gratitude-Fest
• Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss – a book review
• Gratitude is a Feeling, a Capacity, and a Choice 
• Personal Gratitude Prevents Burnout
• Six Benefits Adults Receive by Writing Thank You Notes

_________________________________ FYI. During April I participated in the A-Z Challenge. Most of the posts were from drafts that are at least a year old. I want to clear out my draft pile (193 as of May 15, 2013). So I am continuing to make a special effort to finish those. This is one such post.