Years ago God taught me the importance of gratefulness. Being grateful to God and others helps us to be more happy, content, balanced in our view of life, and emotionally healthy. People that are not grateful tend to be discontent, moody, angry, and even bitter. So how do we become more grateful. Often times, like so many other things in life, it is a choice that we make. We choose to take steps to be a grateful person and then we follow through with those steps.
As a young man, when I first began to realize how ungrateful I had been, I purposed to do something about it. So one day I took some time and began thinking about the people that had been helpful to me during my growing up years. I then decided to write them a letter and tell them specifically what they had done to make my life better. I remember writing my Sunday School teacher who taught our 13 year old class of boys, a coach who had set a good example for me during my high school years, and an uncle who had invested in my life.
Here are some things I learned from doing that.
- being grateful is a choice that we make
- gratefulness will change our perspective of life
- gratefulness is not hard to communicate when you take some time to think about
- pride is our biggest hindrance to showing gratefulness
- gratefulness to others is one of the greatest blessings we can bestow on others
- people’s hearts are drawn together when we express gratefulness
- gratefulness is a ministry that anyone can have to others
- selfishness will keep us from being grateful
- gratefulness is a challenging discipline to maintain
- being grateful is the best way to overcome self-pity, discouragement, moodiness, and ill feelings towards others
November in the United States is the traditional time of year to express gratefulness. How did this come about? Because of some Christians who came to this land and lived through some very difficult circumstances. They gave up much to arrive here and lost much more after being here for a year. But they focused on being grateful for what they had been given and for what they could look forward to. And here in this nation of ungrateful people, we still remember them because of one outstanding quality they chose to demonstrate – gratefulness.
What is keeping you from becoming a more grateful person? Is it the disapppointments you have had in life? Is it unforgiveness you have towards those who have hurt you? Is it pride that makes you think you have accomplished things in your life in spite of what others have done to help you? Are you just being lazy, because you do think good thoughts toward others who have helped you along life’s way?
That 75 year old Sunday School teacher I wrote a letter to thanking him for what he had done for me, called me the next week and told me how much it had meant to him. That coach also called me soon after and told me how happy he was to receive that letter. His story was interesting. He was a relatively young coach, the son of a well known coach, and yet he had retired from coaching shortly after I graduated from school. The interesting thing about that situation is that I never really had him for a coach. He coached the varsity team and I played on the Junior Varsity team. Sometimes we practiced together, but after one year I discontinued playing. The one year I played our varsity team won the state championship, an exceptional achievement for such a young coach.
When he called me, I asked him why he had stopped coaching since he was young and his father had coached for so many years. His answer surprised me. He said that I was the only person who had come back to him later to tell him thank you. He went on to say that if more of his former players had shown a little gratefulness, he would still be coaching.
After talking with him, I reflected back on those days in school and remembered what joy and excitement that people had at school after his team won that State Championship. He had told me that not one of those players ever came back to thank him for all the time and energy he put forth to help them win that trophy.
One day 10 lepers cried out to Jesus for healing. He gave them direction to go show themselves to the Priests and as they obeyed by following His instructions, they were healed. Can you imagine the great joy they experienced when they realized what had happened, but sadly only one of them returned to give thanks. Only one!
Will you be that one to enjoy all the benefits that can come to you and to the ones to which you express thankfulness. Be grateful and be blessed.
