I know it may seem silly to have to explain how to be thankful, but sometimes I think we get caught up in all the stresses of life that we forget how to truly have a heart of thankfulness. Since Thanksgiving Day is just next week, I thought this post might be appropriate. So, here are four S’s I came up with to help you get your thankfulness on!
And there it is. Your four-step how-to guide to get your thankfulness on!
What helps you get your thankfulness on?
- Satisfy Your Heart – Be content. This is really hard to do sometimes. We live in a materialistic world. We can easily find ourselves comparing our lives to the lives of others around us. We can let jealousy creep in. Someone else will always have a better phone, a bigger house, a better paying job, a more ideal family, etc. When we find ourselves comparing, we can’t really be content. It is human nature to want more, but I’d like to encourage you to just be content where you are with what you have, and stop comparing.
- Serve Where You Are – Excuses are abundant. Aren’t they? We can use our jobs, our house, our spouse, and even our children as excuses as to why we can’t do this and can’t do that. We can start down a road of grumbling and complaining which ultimately squishes out our cheerfulness in serving. God has placed you where you are for a purpose. He expects you to be a good steward with what you have. You and I make the choice to serve or complain.
- Study God’s Faithfulness – True thankfulness results from realizing God’s faithfulness and meditating upon it. God will always take care of His children. When we change our focus off of our circumstances and place it on the faithfulness of our Lord, we really can’t help but be thankful.
- Speak Gratitude - Maybe you are satisfied and content with where you are. Maybe you are serving and being a good steward with what God has given you. Maybe you are studying and meditating upon His faithfulness to you. That is great, but let’s not forget to speak what God has done. As a wife and mother, we have a grand opportunity to influence others – primarily our family. Wouldn’t you agree that children are great whiners and complainers? In my household, it seems to come natural to them, but as mother I have the great privilege to train their little hearts to be thankful. Be positive. When someone speaks negative words and complains about something, find the good and speak it. Train your children to look for the good too. Don’t hold your thankfulness inside. Let it out – Share it – Speak it – not just around Thanksgiving season, but do it all the time. I promise it will be contagious.
And there it is. Your four-step how-to guide to get your thankfulness on!
What helps you get your thankfulness on?