Gratitude

Have you come across a gratitude jar?  I was recently given one for my birthday.  The idea is that you have a jar set aside into which you put slips of paper or card with a brief note of something you are thankful for that day.  You could do it every day, or in my case, whenever you remember.  The important thing is taking a few moments to think – what am I grateful for today? It could be anything, so have an open mind, and then jot that down on a piece of paper and pop it in the jar.  As the jar fills up it is a visual reminder of all the things that you are thankful for but is also a great encouragement to go back to at different times.

It is often small changes that can yield big results in our lives and trying to live from a place of gratitude is a simple change that begins like yeast to work its way through the whole of our lives.  If you are stuck in a cycle of comparing yourself negatively with others, what would giving thanks for what you do have begin to shift in you?   

Whilst a gratitude jar might be new, the Bible has been advocating this way of life for a long time.  In fact, when Paul was writing to one of his churches he even commanded them – Be thankful! Being thankful is an overflow of remembering that we are chosen, loved and forgiven by God.  Because God chooses us, loves us and forgives us, God asks those who follow God to do the same, to love as we are loved, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and then to let the peace of Christ rule our hearts.  It is these things that lead us to a place of thanksgiving (Colossians 3.12-15).

Sometimes it is easier to be thankful than others.  This morning I put my cup of tea on the floor as I went to get something in the other room.  Needless to say, as I walked back into the room I kicked my cup with great accuracy and the tea flew everywhere! The quiet moment I had been looking forward to sitting in the sun with a book for a few minutes was lost as I tried to soak up the tea and scrub the stain.  It would have been easy to be angry and frustrated.  But I found myself thankful for hot water from the tap that help me rinse, for a house safe and secure with a fluffy carpet, for the fact that I could bend down and get back up without a problem.  Life is often not straightforward, but thankfulness can change our perspective.  Why not give it a go?

Perspective

Today I popped in to visit a lady who moved into a care home a few months ago. She is an amazing woman who worked as a missionary teacher in India for many years. I enjoyed hearing her talk about disembarking the boat at Bombay (as was) and the close to 24 hour journey by steam train to Madras. As I prepare to go to Tanzania it was good to be reminded that even though my trip is going to take me well out of my comfort zone, it is nevertheless considerably more accessible and connected than similar ventures in the past!


As we chatted she showed me the Bible that she is currently reading.  It is in the Tamil language as she maintains the vividly remembered connection with India.  And we talked about the last meal she ever made for herself, cauliflower cheese, and the suddenness that big changes can arrive with.  Then we talked some more about the Bible, and I was amused after yesterdays post to hear her talk about the Bible she received for her confirmation, that was edited by Stirling and included what sounded wonderful illustration, in that the 'boring bits' (her words!) were in smaller font and three columns to a page.  So we shared a chuckle at what I had written about yesterday.  I was wondering if she still had that Bible, but no, she had recently given it to one of her carers who asked if she had a Bible the carer could have. I was touched by the generosity of giving away a Bible that obviously had many precious memories. And she just said, "well I had read it right through!"

Gratitude

It was interesting over Christmas listening to the debate about whether a forced thank-you letter is better or worse than an impromptu thank-you text. Much as I love to receive and send cards and letters, there is something powerful about genuine gratitude. 

In Luke 6.45, Jesus is in the middle of saying some pretty amazing things when he says: "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks". Sometimes it's hard to be thankful, other times it's easy, but I know if I keep noticing the little things I'm grateful for then they get stored up and it's words of gratitude that I hear myself speak. 

I've so much to be thankful for I don't ever want to take that for granted.