THANKS AND, NO THANKS

The heavy chain of ingratitude or criticalness is light until we discover we cannot break it off ourselves. Unthankfulness is one of the worst life sentences I can imagine. One time my wife challenged me when she asked, “How is that you can be so patient and creative with the people you see in counseling but when it comes to our daughter’s bedroom…?” Busted. If you are like me, there must be times when you think that life is just plain difficult. God inspired the apostle Paul to predict today's rampant global attitude of unthankfulness and actually warned us by saying: "...in these last days people will be lovers of themselves . . . unthankful, unholy" (2 Tim. 3.1,2).

You may be saying, “You do not know my life”. Read carefully. Research shows that people who are described by others as either positive or thankful: have lower blood pressure, lose weight faster (than angry people), record less episodes of prolonged stress, live longer, are more attractive candidates in lasting relationships, run a lower risk of clinical depression, phobias, eating disorders and other addictive behaviors. One researcher I read said, “An expression of any feeling is amplified. When you express anger, you get angrier; when you express gratitude, you become more grateful." I have noticed that truly thankful people focus on what they have and not what they do not have, admit they have more than they deserve, are quick to accept reality as it comes their way and seemingly gauge their happiness by experiences, memories, people and non tangibles rather than on money or the world’s symbols of success.

TODAY, thank someone for something specific that they have done for you. If you can thank the person (if the person is deceased, write a letter), do so-- in person. When you thank them, acknowledge the effort it took for them by saying, “I know you had to do___for this to happen and I see this as a sacrifice on your part.” And finally, let the person know the difference their act of kindness personally meant to you. You can do this by saying something like, “I want you to know that because you did, ____, I can now _____”. Living thankfully is a choice so today, choose a new way to start and end your day. You can do it!! Yes, you can.