Remember when: Laundry detergent had free glasses or dishes hidden inside the box Pizzas were not delivered but milk was? And the glass bottles?
You had one phone in the house… And that was a party line.
Automobile headlight dimmer switches were on the floor.
Remember soda pop being in glass bottles? Flavors like orange, grape, cream soda and strawberry? How about Ne Hi soda?
S and H green stamps? Playing marbles? Big chief tablets? Remembering is an important spiritual discipline.
Ps 103:1-5 reminds us of the importance of remembering in being grateful. “ Psalm 103 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. “
Notice how the song begins… I tell myself… Praise the Lord O my soul.
I will tell myself the good things he has done for me.
The first lesson we learn about gratitude is that is a choice. Gratitude is a lifestyle. How we react to live as a matter of choice We can choose to focus on the blessings or focus on the difficulties.
Choose gratitude and it affects all of your life. You can’t be grumpy and gracious, you can’t be bitter and a blessing at the same time. Gratitude has the power to hijack your negative feelings. Where there is gratitude exists it runs negative emotions out.
But gratitude is something that needs to be practiced. That’s why it is a choice.
Our natural way of functioning is not with being contented for what we have but desire more. If we have $100 we want $200. If we have a car we want a nicer car, one like the neighbor.
We inherited this from our father Adam.
We have to choose, choose to be grateful, and content with what we have.
So how do we begin? First, give thanks to God for three things every day. Remember things that have been personal..
Secondly, help someone. Helping others gets the focus off of ourselves and on the others. Haven’t you noticed that when you help it gives you a warm feeling?
Helping others gives us a sense of gratitude. That is the way to God wired us. We were meant to help others. Was I meant to be my brothers keeper?
Yes, it may be a small thing like holding the door, speaking kindly to the clerk at a gas station, or an encouraging phone call to a troubled friend. The more you do the better you feel, why? Because you’re doing for someone else not expecting any return A third choice is expressing gratitude. Say “thanks” and genuinely mean it. Show appreciation for others. Especially those who serve you can make you feel better.
All of this is wrapped up in the statement: I tell myself to praise the Lord. I will tell myself of the good things he has done.
Take a few minutes and remember the good things God has given to you.
Together we are grateful, walking in His way.
