We’ve all experienced it – the time when you thoughtfully held a door open for a stranger and they walked through it without a thought, as if you were born to serve them. What didn’t happen? Sure, the smallest of expressions, a simple “Thank you”, a little courtesy acknowledging the tiny gift you gave them didn’t take place. But more importantly, even before that rote response learned in childhood, the person would have needed to be aware that another human being was offering a gift. Then, once that initial awareness took place, one of three things could have happened – the childhood behavioral response, an actual thought of thanks, or a heart response of otherness with accompanying appreciation, true gratitude.

Gratitude is a heart issue. It is the internal awareness that one’s life has been made richer by a gift – an opened door, a birthday/Christmas presents, a kind word, a prepared meal, someone’s time, beauty, freedoms, heritage, God’s creation. Gratitude reaches out with increasing awareness that the world is a rich and wonderous place with lots of people who want to share goodness. Teaching a child to see the blessings of the moment, to recognize goodness in others, to experience beauty in all its forms is to ultimately elevate that child’s life into happiness, mental balance, and spiritual maturity. A grateful heart is the portal between two worlds – selfishness into connectedness.

Psychology Today points out that “A materialistic culture that encourages constant wanting and sees possessions as the source of happiness is not the most fertile ground for gratitude. But it is not an insurmountable barrier to developing it. Envy and especially cynicism and narcissism are similarly thieves of gratitude. In fact, the cultivation of gratitude may be at least a partial remedy for narcissism.”

The Bible got a jump on this same insight – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Ralph Waldo Emerson said it well:

“For each new morning

With its light,

For rest and shelter

of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything

Thy goodness sends.”

 

Teaching gratitude is one of God’s gifts to parents. Bit by bit you can see their little hearts develop as you begin to mold their character. You can show the way by practicing gratitude with your spouse speaking aloud their wonderfulness, verbalizing the blessings she/he brings to the family, acknowledging effort with gratitude. Also, you can demonstrate gratitude by thanking your server by name at a restaurant or your checkout person at the store. Stop the car and appreciate nature’s glory during a beautiful sunset and thank God for this incredible gift. On birthday’s have each child speak out why their birthday sibling is special. At the end of each school year have each child send a thank you note to their teacher. A child can learn to forgive a transgression by listing all the great qualities of a friendship in conflict. And importantly, express thanksgiving at each family meal, not out of rote, but out of a growing appreciation that you are blessed. By focusing the heart on positives, well-being grows to become the predominant attitude about life. Start the day with Gratitude.

We are so incredibly grateful you and that you choose to read OneFamily Letters & Quotes!!

Lis and Dave Marr

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Upcoming 2022 Classes & Coaching/Mentoring

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