Cultivating Thankfulness Will Bring Joy Into Our Lives

Genuine thankfulness is an important aspect of the response of our hearts to the good things, large and small, that come into our lives.  In fact, if we cannot honestly experience gratitude then the good things in our lives are significantly diminished.  The good is not fully experienced if it is not deeply appreciated.

I want to be a thankful person.  (Occasionally I am.  But I have room for growth in this area.)

We can cultivate thankfulness.  In other words, we can practice the discipline of learning to bring thankfulness to mind.  We can learn to see with eyes of appreciation as we engage with life each day.  This will bring greater joy into our lives. 

(Thankfulness really will bring greater joy, this is not just some pious-sounding attempt at happy talk.)

Prayer:  “Lord, help us to see the many good things in our lives.  And even though life certainly has its struggles, help us to appreciate how incredibly blessed we are.”