May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favour and give you his peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 NLT
Thanks is an expression of gratitude. This comes from the Latin “gratia”, meaning grace and gratefulness. Ask a Brit if they are all right and they will often instinctively reply, “Can’t complain”, as if a little disappointed! In finding God we need to retrain our instinctive reactions to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV UK 2011).
It’s not only Christians who might be well-advised to practise gratitude. The Harvard Medical School reports: “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
A lifetime spent in criticism of self, others and circumstances drags us down emotionally and psychologically. We are robbed of positive memories, creative optimism and an ability to move on from a bad experience.
The third phrase Dr Bycock recommends in The Four Things That Matter Most is “Thank you”. These words are available at every moment to us to express to anyone we choose. I thank the person taking my Americano order at the coffee shop and the bus driver as I board. It has become a habit. Does this empty my gratitude of authenticity? No. Because I have considered the need for expressing thanks and the purpose both for the well-being of another as well as myself.
Giving thanks is a lifestyle choice. The longer you live with criticism, the more you will become formed by that critical spirit. The degree to which this will impact your well-being may not be measurable. Yet, science appears to indicate that saying “Thank you” offers a good opportunity to maintain mental and physical resilience.
QUESTION
What people and situations will you encounter today when you could say “Thank you”?
PRAYER
You have blessed me and smiled on me in so many ways. Help me to be truly thankful.
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