A Grateful Spirit

Bethel Mennonite Church - Gladys VA

A children’s lesson – Sometimes our parents ask us to do things that we do not want to do, but when we get older we are thankful that they made us do them.

Is gratitude a talent? Paul instructs us to be grateful. Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit. It is hard to be joyful if you’re not grateful. In the story of the ten lepers, all were grateful but only one returned to express his gratitude and he was a Samaritan.

We should have gratitude in everything even though many times we do not know the reason for our circumstances.

Some obstacles to gratitude: 1- We take things for granted. We are not thankful for the things that we expect and for things that are routine. 2- We don’t understand the greater purpose. The important thing is to rely more and more on Jesus who is working for our growth and for our good. 3- We tend to focus on the negative which give place to unhealthy attitudes. Some unhealthy attitudes are materialism, the accumulation of things; envy, we want what other people have; narcissism, a self focus, people are here to serve me; and cynicism when we look on the negative side of everything. 4- We surround ourselves with grumps. Being around grumpy people all the time can make us grumpy as well.

How can we practice gratitude? 1- we can express it. Say it aloud. Tell others. 2- we can write thank you notes. 3- tell our children thank you when they do things for us, thank God for our children. 4- make sure our negative thoughts are balanced by positive ones. 5- Tell stories about times when God worked in our lives, in our church and in the people we know.

Gratefulness is the vaccine against bitterness and anger. We cannot keep gratefulness in our hearts; it needs to be expressed.

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