Transformed by Jesus to Make Disciples

“Gratitude Enhances the Joy of Living”

I was recently conversing with a woman who last summer lost her husband to death. She told me of many things for which she was thankful. This, of course, included her fulfilling, long-time marriage. Her gratitude included life beyond the loss of her beloved. She reported fun activities that have occurred in the past few months.

 This conversation reminded me of what I’ve been told that was a helpful ingredient in dealing with depression. That simply is gratitude. Gratitude, being thankful, elevates the human spirit. It helps us to face each new day. It enables us to be renewed – to enter into and to receive God’s transformation for us. Gratitude enables us to see our cup as half full instead of half empty.

• Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.  Philippians 4:8-9, The Message

• Being able to appreciate, to be grateful, to have a sense of gratitude about life puts us in a place with God that opens us to be shaped, renewed, transformed the way God wants us to be. It enables us to be about what God wants us to do. This is not only true for individuals, but also congregations and districts and denominations.    Ken Holderread