Hurrying along, my feet were only mildly slower than the pace of my thoughts. Spending time doomscrolling, instead of counting my blessings had robbed me of peace-full afternoon. What a shame.
Suffering abounds. Yet, there is a nudge in my spirit reminding me that hard times are not unique to our times. What is exclusive to this season of history, is for the first time IN history, we don’t seek out information.
Opinions and fearmongering come to us, with technology inserting itself without our invitation at every turn. (Pssst, GOOD news abounds as well away from media).
Now then, what is an antidote to the heavy weight of bad news during this season when our hearts normally turn to cheerful celebration? A defiant determination to look for the joy in the midst.
A grateful heart makes a holiday out of the seemingly ordinary.
There is an inevitable joy that comes from counting your blessings, a soothing balm in turbulent times.
Our ordinary life holds the promise of a brighter day when perspective shifts.
20 gratitude quotes for a thankful life
“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”-Thomas Paine
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”- Willie Nelson
“Gratitude lifts our eyes off the things we lack so we might see the blessings we possess.”- Max Lucado
“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.”- S. Lewis
“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”- Camille Pissarro
“Concentrate on counting your blessings and you’ll have little time to count anything else.”- Woodrow Kroll
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”– Marcus Aurelius
“… it’s a blessed thing to love and feel loved in return.” A. Bucchianeri
“The thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”-Henry Ward Beecher
“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”–Robert Brault
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”–Charles Dickens
“I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.”- Will Arnett
“Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”- Charles Dickens
“Count your blessings, not your problems. Count your own blessings, not someone else’s. Remember that jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings instead of your own.”― Roy T. Bennett
“God gave you a gift of 84,600 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you?”― William Arthur Ward
“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” ― T. Purkiser
“Gratitude bestows reverence…..changing forever how we experience life and the world.” ― John Milton
“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”― Lucy Maud Montgomery,Anne of Green Gables
“For, there were many, many things he had neglected. Little matters while he was at home and surrounded by them, but things of mighty moment when he was at an immeasurable distance. There were many many blessings that he had inadequately felt, there were many trivial injuries that he had not forgiven, there was love that he had but poorly returned, there was friendship that he had too lightly prized: there were a million kind words that he might have spoken, a million kind looks that he might have given, uncountable slight easy deeds in which he might have been most truly great and good. O for a day (he would exclaim), for but one day to make amends!”― Charles Dickens
“I will only add, God bless you.”― Jane Austen
How to practice gratitude with one simple concept
Just as we guard our front door to our sanctuary, so we can guard our hearts. Our thought life influences our whole life, so we have the opportunity to redirect. Pivot, time and time again. Towards joy!
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Close the door to unwanted thoughts, battling the good fight against anxiety, refusing entrance to electronic interlopers.
Consider a fast. A time away to restore, without the constant buzz of negative streaming choices, social media, front page news, and people who steal your joy.
Does that sound impossible?
I get it. A few years ago I began purposefully guarding my heart, and you can too♥.
The immeasurable gain is nearly impossible to describe, but I can tell you that my joy-ometer is nearly off the charts when I listen to the small voices, the still whispers, the gentle invitations of life. I am a better person for counting my blessings on a daily, hourly and yes…even moment by moment rotation.
These boundaries don’t mean we are void of empathy for the suffering, it in fact prepares us for battles that come our way. We are stronger for being wise custodians of our thought life.
A grateful life of thanksgiving
Gratitude reminds us of all the ways God has comforted us through things so tiny, it can be easy to forget!
Those grateful moments shore up our walls of contentment, a pleasure that makes everyday have holy-day potential.
Here is an extra, perhaps my favorite of all from a favorite writer:
“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness — just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.”― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom and Virtues
As homemakers, we have the remarkable opportunity to set the tone in our homes. That can be a tough responsibility at times, and these quotes are part of my collection that encourages me to grow in thankfullness, in all seasons.
So today? Let these grateful quotes linger. I pray they bring peace to your spirit and a smile to your face.
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