I grew up with my parents and teachers modeling and instructing me on how to be polite. Being polite included saying, \u201cPlease\u201d and \u201cThank you.\u201d I have always tried to continue that practice in my life and pass it on to my children and grandchildren. But as I matured, I began to see the difference between saying thank you and living a thankful life.<\/p>\n
My parents telling me to say thank you to someone who gave me something or did something for me was the beginning, but as I grew and matured, I learned that it was important to live a thankful life. I have considered some of the practical ways of living a thankful life. As I have often been the recipient of the blessings of others, I want to have opportunities to bless others in return. In the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 it reminds us to \u201cBe joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God\u2019s will for you in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Consider the following practical ways of living a thankful life:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saying thank you and really meaning it! Let the words mean something from the heart.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Becoming aware, and not taking for granted, the cost, sacrifice and effort it cost others to do for you. I am especially humbled when I realize what someone went through for me in time, effort resources and sacrifice.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Let the people who are closest to you know you are thankful for what they do for you and for them personally. Don\u2019t take for granted what your family and friends do for you. Verbalize it!<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brag more on others than on yourself. Give other people the credit for what they do and treat what they do as being more important than what you do.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Give back. Giving thanks has a lot to do with what we receive, what we have been given, the blessings we receive; but the other side of a thankful heart is wanting to give back to others. Give to others; pay it forward and be a blessing to others.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Do something totally unexpected for others; something extra they would least expect you to do for them. I think they used to call these \u201crandom acts of kindness.\u201d It\u2019s time to resurrect \u201cRAK\u2019s\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Learn the art of humility. Consider the blessings others give to us and things people do for us and receive it with humility. This is an attitude contrary to \u201cthe world owes me a living\u201d attitude. I realize I am more thankful when I consider the fact that I do not deserve what others have given or have done for me, or the blessings I have received in life. When I get the idea that I deserve it, I lose touch with my grateful attitude and replace it with grumbling and complaining.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Learning the art of being content. For me, it is considering that I have a glass half-full and am grateful for what I have. My focus is not on the half-empty glass, but the half-full glass, and am thankful for that. Learning to be grateful in all things brings contentment to my heart.<\/p>\n
\u2022 More than just doing for others and giving back is \u201cgoing the second mile\u201d by seeking always to be a blessing to others. How can I make someone\u2019s life a little better today? A smile? A handshake? A pat on the back? An encouraging word? Seeking out someone to say thank you for making a difference in my life? A helping hand?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Remembering to give God thanks. Thanksgiving was originally a feast to offer thanksgiving to God for the bountiful harvest He provided. God has provided so much for us \u2013 life, family, friends, a great community, a loving church, and most of all; forgiveness for our sins and taking away the guilt of our sins. Through Jesus, we find peace with God and ultimately peace and forgiveness within ourselves. God\u2019s blessings are abundant for us! He does so much for us we don\u2019t even realize.<\/p>\n
Being thankful and giving thanks is a growing, learning, maturing process. Don\u2019t ever stop growing, learning and maturing in our gratitude. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all the blessings in our lives!<\/p>\n
\u2022 Dan Wiese is pastor at the Church of the Nazarene.<\/p>\n