Start with Gratitude

By Mike Glenn

Part of my mental health routine is walking through a bookstore near me. Whenever I need to clear my head or settle down my anxiety, I’ll head over to the bookstore and begin my intentional meandering through the store. I’ll go through the new releases and best sellers. I’ll slow down through biographies and history. I’ll speed up in the religion and philosophy section. (Is it just me that thinks most of what is written in the name of Christianity is junk? Of course, I’m not including Scot’s books…)

Photo by Howie R on Unsplash

Anyway, back to the story. The other day, I found myself in the journaling section. There were countless pens, notebooks and journals, all designed to help us free up the creativity, pain and joy trapped deep within each of our souls. I normally don’t like predetermined formats in my journals. I like blank pages. I don’t like lines. I don’t want anything on that page that tells me how I have to interact with the journal at that moment.  I never know if I’ll be in the mood to sketch, outline, draw or just write. But that’s just me. 

The one journal that did catch my attention was one called “The Gratitude Journal.” This particular journal had lists for every day, one for the morning and another for evening. This journal encouraged the user to take time every morning and evening to list 10 things for which they were grateful.  According to the blurb on the inside, studies have shown grateful people live longer and happier lives than ungrateful people. (I’m not sure who did the study, but I’m sure it’s reliable. After all, it was printed right on the journal’s label).

For some reason, our culture has discovered gratitude. Gratitude is everywhere these days. Gratitude is printed on greeting cards and bumper stickers. There are little gratitude cards you can sign and give to people to express your thankfulness for what they bring to your life. All of this is well and good, but I’m thinking these guys are a little late to the party. After all, Christianity has been teaching gratitude for a couple of thousand years. 

How many times do we read in the Scriptures, “Give thanks!” The Apostle Paul takes it a step further and tells us to “give thanks in all things.” Really? In everything? According to Paul, yes, we are to give thanks in everything. How can we do that? Why should we do that? Here are a few thoughts. 

First, we give thanks because every aspect of our lives is a gift. Not one of us earned our birth or paid for our life. We opened our eyes one day and here we were. We didn’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. Every breath, every heartbeat is a gift. When it rains, that’s a gift. When the sun shines, that’s a gift. For all of that and so much more, we’re grateful. 

Second, our God is so good, so strong and so creative He can take the worst moment of our life and make it the first line of our testimony.  I’ve seen it happen too many times. Someone will come into my office and say, “Please don’t tell anybody.” I won’t tell a soul, and we’ll begin the journey toward healing. Jesus will do what Jesus does and healing comes. Sooner or later, the person will invite me to a group where they are giving their testimony. Of course, I’ll go and sit in the back of the room and I’ll be amazed again as the person stands up and begins their story with the very fact they told me not to tell anyone. 

And for that I’m grateful. 

I’m grateful for the sun that came up this morning and for the darkness that calls me to rest. 

I’m grateful for the calling to serve as a pastor. I’m grateful for the opportunity to establish the Engage Church Network to serve pastors and local churches. 

I’m grateful for a wife who loves me and for sons who continue to make me proud. And of course, I’m grateful for four beautiful grandchildren. 

I’m grateful for great books to read and friends who make me laugh. More than that, I’m grateful for friends who show up when they know you’re going through hard times.

I’m grateful for good work. I’m grateful for hard things. After all, doing hard things is the only way we get stronger. I’m grateful for those who attack me and force me to sharpen my thinking. 

It’s all a gift — every beautiful, challenging moment of it – all of life is a gift. Gratitude is where we start. Gratitude is where we end and its gratitude all the way through. 

Give thanks. In everything, give thanks. When you wake up in the morning, give thanks. Before you go to sleep in the evening, give thanks.

I hear it’s good for the soul.