Gratitude as a Spiritual Discipline

by General Presbyter Melana Scruggs

Two weeks ago, I led a contemplative service at Pine Shores on Psalm 145. The psalms of praise are a wonderful way to begin every morning. Seeing the glory of each new day that God gives us puts a in a different frame of mind than if we start by checking on the news. Gratitude does not always come naturally to us. We would rather complain and look at our difficulties than take time to recognize our blessings. Someone was sharing with me that an older woman in Jamaica whose home and possessions were destroyed by Hurricane Melissa, was found by her daughter standing in the ruins singing, “Count your blessings, name them one by one…” That is the kind of faith I wish I had.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we often take more time to recognize what God has done for us. We gather with friends and family we have not seen in a long time and catch up on each other’s lives. We might take a little longer on the prayer before the meal than we usually do. Too often by the time we sit down to watch football we have forgotten the reason for the day.

Perhaps this year we could make a commitment to taking time each day to notice the blessings that God has put in our lives. Sometimes when I catch myself wishing that my life were different, I stop and think about the millions of people who do not have enough food to eat or a place to call home or who live in fear because of war or violence. Then I realize that I am blessed beyond imagining. What if we could learn to be grateful in all things and at all times? What a change that could make in the world! If we lived understanding our blessings, we would be more likely to share with others.

Stewardship comes out of gratitude rather than duty or guilt. The giving of our talents and resources is a result of recognizing our blessings. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that affects many areas of our lives. As you celebrate this Thanksgiving, I invite you to consider how to strengthen gratitude and grace in your daily lives. I wish you a blessed holiday with friends and family.