GRATITUDE IS THE BEST ATTITUDE
A few years ago a writer
named A.J. Jacobs embarked on an adventure that would later become a
best-selling book. He resolved to live for one year according to all the laws
and commandments of the Bible. The book became The Year of
Living Biblically.
Although he defined himself as an
agnostic Jew — he decided to give it a try, i.e., to follow all of the Old Testament laws to the
letter — observing the Sabbath, cleansing rituals, the dietary restrictions,
even to the extent that he didn't shave or wear blended fabrics. He also began
to tithe, which he was surprised to discover felt really good. It feels good to
be generous. It feels good to help people.
There was one huge and completely
unexpected outcome to his journey: gratitude. He began to feel thankful for
every little detail of his life. He talked about getting on the elevator in his
apartment building, and being with overcome with gratitude for the elevator.
And he talked about being thankful to arrive home, thankful for his wife,
thankful at the sight of his son.
He said that gratitude became something
like an obsession with him, that throughout the day he kept saying to himself
again and again, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." He wrote...
"It's
an odd way to live. But also kind of great and powerful. I've never before been
so aware of the thousands of little good things, the thousands of things that
go right every day."
I don't know what has happened in Mr.
Jacobs' life since he wrote this book but I do know that while he was on this
journey, he discovered a principle of living that, if used everyday, can
revolutionize your life. It's a principle that we would all do well to
discover. It's the principle of thankfulness. When you become thankful you see
more and more how God is at work in your life.
Paul knew this
secret said this way "Give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for
you". (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
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