Gratitude is the Worthwhile Choice
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
This Sunday, November 5th, is Westminster’s kickoff to a year of gratitude. Gratitude is a Biblical theme running through both the Old and New Testament literature. Gratitude is a divine gift that prepares the faithful to endure and even thrive amid the pain and suffering of an unjust world. God does not block us from the injustice of our imperfect world but prepares us with the tools of faith to make a meaningful difference in God’s name. Gratitude is one of the tools in the Messianic carpenter’s bag to bring hope to a needy world.
In “Use Gratitude To Make It Through the Toughest Hours,” Diana GPinto asserts “It’s too easy to become a complaint expert. It’s too easy to see defects and faults in every corner.” Life leaves us with a choice. We can either affirm a perspective of gratitude and divine hopefulness, or we can jump into the abyss of despair.
GPinto provides access to the profound power of gratitude through the experiences of Auschwitz survivors and their examples of overcoming fear and despair. The following are just a few examples of their firsthand accounts. “For Sarah, an extra piece of bread was like a feast.” “For Tanya, watching the sunset across the field felt like a warm embrace, and a blessing from God of one more day alive.” “The feeling that someone needs you is more important for survival than just the feeling that you have to survive.” “I thought, I tried, I did all kinds of things to survive, and to help others survive but after a while, it was only God who allowed me to survive.”
Each story offered a unique moment of appreciation. A piece of bread, a sunset, someone needing you, the reality of God, all are different but have in common the gift of gratitude. If gratitude can be found in a concentration camp, it can be found in our home, place of work, and on our streets. The Auschwitz survivors continue to teach us that despair is a choice. Gratitude is also a choice. Make gratitude your choice, rather than accepting the easier of despair. Trust God to provide opportunities for gratitude even in the seemingly darkest moments.