The Power of Being Grateful

I've been reflecting a bit more lately on the concept of gratitude, mostly because I need to keep reminding myself that gratitude is foundational for a life of serenity, and I have been struggling to feel serene. 

I've been waiting for my house to sell for over 250 days.  I started this journey with dreams of selling it quickly at full price and all of the things I'd be able to resolve afterward. 

Over the past many months, I have lowered the price several times, and my dreams have had to be recalibrated to meet reality.  Finances aren't fantastic, to say the least.  There is often way "more month at the end of the money," to coin a phrase that seems to fit. 

And yet, I'm realizing that there are so many other aspects of my life that are better than they've ever been.  While the temptation is great to dwell on the negative, I'm doing my best to focus on what is right and good, rather than what isn't, and also out of my control.  

I don't always get it right, in case you're wondering, which is why I'm grateful for guides like Thomas Merton, who once wrote:   

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”

These words remind us that gratitude is not just a polite response when something good happens. It is a way of living—an openness to see God’s love even in the ordinary, even in the difficult. To live in gratitude is to recognize that life itself is a gift, and that God’s love is woven into every moment, even those that test us.

The apostle Paul echoes this when he writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Notice he doesn’t say “for all circumstances” but in them. Gratitude is not denial of hardship—it is a choice to look for God’s presence in the midst of it.

When we practice gratitude, even in pain or uncertainty, something remarkable happens: our hearts shift. We move from despair toward hope, from fear toward trust, from scarcity toward abundance. 

The psalmist understood this when he declared, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Every day—even the ones that feel heavy with burden—is still a gift from God.

Living with gratitude takes discipline. It requires us to slow down, to notice, to awaken to the wonder Merton describes. But the more we practice it, the more we begin to experience God not just as an idea but as a reality. Gratitude teaches us, as Merton says, that God is good “not by hearsay but by experience.”

So today, pause. Breathe. Thank God for the small things you often overlook—your heartbeat, the taste of food, the sound of laughter, even the strength to endure challenges. Gratitude doesn’t erase difficulty, but it transforms how we walk through it.

Practice being grateful even for the things you normally take for granted. In doing so, you may find that gratitude becomes the doorway out of despair and into a life more fully alive in God’s love. And remember, gratitude doesn’t need a perfect life—just open eyes.

Prayer

Loving God,
Thank You for the gift of this moment, for breath in my lungs and hope in my heart. Teach me to live in gratitude, to see Your hand in both the joys and the struggles of my days. Help me to awaken to Your goodness and to trust that Your love is present in all things. May my life overflow with thanksgiving, leading me closer to You. Amen. 

A Simple Gratitude Daily Practice

1. Morning Pause – Before starting your day, thank God for your breath, the gift of life, and one specific blessing.

2. Journal – Each evening, write down three things you are grateful for. Small things count.

3. Scripture Reminder – Repeat a verse like “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:18) when you feel discouraged.

4. Prayer – End your day: “Lord, thank You for the seen and unseen gifts of this day.”

5. Share Gratitude – Speak or show thanks to someone. Gratitude grows when given away.