Attitude of Gratitude Out Loud
By Ken and Jan Merop
Avery County
The story is told of a young boy who had misbehaved. “Go sit on the stool in the corner,” said his mom. He went to the corner, but wouldn’t sit down.
So his mom came and repeated that he should sit down. After a few defiant moments, he finally acquiesced. However, he whispered loud enough for her to hear, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.”
Such contempt for authority isn’t uncommon. And just as the story shows, it begins early in life. If it is not corrected, if the child isn’t shown how his sinful nature leads to sinful choices and attitudes, he grows into adulthood with the same frame of mind.
However, gratitude will foster the opposite result.
How often while growing up did you hear, “Say please, say thank you, say you’re welcome, say I’m sorry, say please forgive me?” When we became parents, we taught the same to our children. Unfortunately, we don’t hear these words too often in our culture.
When children are taught to be thankful along with these other virtues, they are developing their inner health with an attitude of gratitude. Without that training, an attitude of entitlement pervades. And as disappointing as that is for the one who should hear virtuous responses, it is really more sorrowful for the one who neglects to be grateful.
Gratitude brings health to our mind and heart…to our inner health. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, NKJV, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
In other words, “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts,” says The Message.
Grateful hearts, hearts that praise God and acknowledge him regularly will overflow with delight. This overflow will refresh others like a cool mist of water on a hot day. And breezes of blessings will blow back on us as well.
One way to be thankful is to heap praise upon God our Maker. Thanksgiving and praise is a two-way street. Anyone who worships God with a heart of gratitude and praise realizes we do so not only to bring blessing to Him but for our sake.
“Be thankful to Him, and bless His name,” says Psalm 100: 4b.
We need him for our next breath. We depend on him to sustain us. I’ve heard that C.S. Lewis once said that praise is inner health made audible.
So, live with an attitude of gratitude…out loud! Selah
Let your light shine
These bright beauties draw us to them.
They are like lights in the darkness
bringing smiles and joy.
Bloom as these do…
Attracting and engaging others
to see the true Light.
“Let your light so shine before men,
That they may see your good works
And glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5: 16
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Ken and Jan love residing in the mountains of Avery County. Visit Jan’s new blog @pauseandconsider.net, Journeying with Jan. Ken’s photos can be seen at kenmeropphotography.com.
You can read more good Christian news from Ken and Jan HERE.
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