I try and practice gratitude daily. But there’s a trick. I try and keep it simple. It’s not always the stereotypical bedtime list, sometimes it’s a small thought in the middle of an active day. Practicing gratitude doesn’t have to be a 20-minute routine. A grateful heart is sometimes just a feeling. It’s the feeling I get when I hear my son joyfully whistling or singing around our home, or the feeling when I’m swimming on a Saturday morning beneath a vibrant sunrise.
King David exclaims his joy and gratitude in Psalm 66.
“Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.” Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for us! Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard.”
Through Christ, each day we are; bathed in the gift of grace, live in love, individually valued and freely forgiven. In response to what our loving God has done for us, we serve our learning communities in His schools. David reminds us that there is great value in gratitude. We have so much to be grateful for as we share the learning journey of students, staff and parents each day. As reflective learners, we give thanks for a semester of personal and professional growth, rich learning, supportive relationships, celebration, connection and inspiration to share the Gospel. With gratitude, we acknowledge the dedication and commitment of professional educators as they lead learning together for the benefit of our students. Luther writes of gratitude as the heart of the Gospel, portraying it as not merely as an attitude but a virtue to be put into practice.
5 ways to practice gratitude include;
1. Keep a daily Gratitude or Prayer journal.
2. Tell someone how much you appreciate them.
3. Notice the beauty in nature.
4. Nurture the friendships you have.
5. Smile more often.
How do you practice gratitude?
Blessings as we serve, lead and learn together.
Darren
