Gratitude Is A Way Of Living by Suzanne Scheideker Cook
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie
Expressing thanks to others for our blessings is something that sounds easy to do but in practice is difficult, especially when we are going through hard times. When things are tough for us, we think to ourselves that there is nothing to be thankful for in our lives. However, I have found that practicing gratitude daily particularly when life turns challenging keeps me centered and positive. Even during my saddest, darkest days, there have been blessings. When I lost my first husband in a car accident, someone said to me, “You had something with Bill that few people ever get – a happy marriage.” I must admit that at the time, these words were not comforting. But, as I reflected on them, I realized I had indeed been blessed with having Bill as my partner. During this dark time, I also learned that taking time each day to think about, and be grateful for, blessings small and large was and is important to my spiritual, mental, and physical health. Here are some ways that I practice gratitude daily, and perhaps there is one that calls to you which you can use to express appreciation for your blessings and to bless others:
Every morning before I start my day, I take a moment be thankful that I have been given another day which is a new beginning.
I pick a chore and choose to enjoy it whether it’s washing dishes, filing paperwork, or pulling weeds. How? I think of it this way – if I am washing dishes, it means I have had a meal and have not gone hungry today. When I am filing paperwork, it means I have work and when I am pulling weeds, it means that I have a garden. I am also grateful for the strength and ability to do these tasks.
Take a moment and pick something and focus on its beauty. It can be a flower, the branches of a tree against the sky, the evening sunset, or a loved one’s smile. When I feel down, I go outside for a few moments and watch the hummingbirds as they zoom to the feeders. As I watch them, I give thanks for these jewel-colored creatures that bring color and joy into my life.
Another way to express gratitude is to be a blessing to someone else. Sometimes, I ask myself, “Whom for and how can I be a blessing today?” Then I act on whom and what comes to mind.
If none of these speak to you, then perhaps you can use this quote by Rabbi Harold Kushner as a daily affirmation. “Today, I choose to live with gratitude for the love that fills my heart, the peace that rests within my spirit, and the voice of hope that says all things are possible.”
We are grateful for you, our readers. Wishing you joy and blessings this holiday season and always.
