Thankfulness sometimes is a decision. We may have times when our emotions well up in gratitude, but gut emotions are fickle things and sometimes let you down. Thankfulness is too valuable a virtue to be left to the whim of gut feelings.
There may be days when we do not feel very grateful yet considering the many blessings God has given each one of us we know we ought to be thankful. It is the right thing to do.
Many times we need to change our thinking or our point of view. We have gotten into a rut of depression or selfishness or high expectations and have a false impression that there is little or nothing to be thankful for. Many have developed strategies and programs to help in this area, and a search through the library or the internet will find them.
My personal approach to not being grateful is twofold:
First I pray. I confess to God my failure to be thankful, I admit to him it is wrong to not be appreciative and acknowledge it is offensive to his generosity to not give thanks for my blessings. I ask him to show me what I should be thankful for.
Second I make a list, often mental but occasionally I write it out, I say what I am thankful for and why.
It may look like this:
I am thankful for
My wonderful wife.
My wonderful kids.
My home it is dry, warm, and has running water.
My two cats who entertain me.
My friends who I enjoy.
For coffee because I like the taste and it wakes me up.
The kids I teach to draw because they inspire me.
My job because it puts bread on my table.
For sunshine because it is good.
For today because it is a day off from work.
My health because many my age are infirm.
For music because it is relaxing for me.
For talent as an artist to paint something people enjoy.
For my Church which is so supportive of me and my family.
I find I need to cut it short because after a few moments I get so many ideas that there is too many to keep up with and write down.
I admit I do not do this every day, but frequently, I feel it is too important to neglect.
