‘Tis the season to be jolly…
Wait a minute, that familiar jingle speaks of a holiday coming soon–but first, lets celebrate Thanksgiving! OK? When we are thankful it makes our hearts glad. That spirit of thanksgiving does alot for our health as well as give us a happy and satisfied feeling.
Way back in 1956, the eminent Dr. Hans Selye published a book titled “The Stress of Life”. In it he discussed a lifetime of research on stress and what to do about it. His conclusion: while there is no single formula that suits all in relieving stress, an attitude of gratitude plays a key role in fending off the ravages of harmful stress in our lives. A search of more recent research corroborates this.
There is much wisdom in the old Nigerian proverb, “Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.”
So, what am I grateful for today?
- A wonderful, loving wife of almost forty years.
- Two awesome children and their spouses, and and the laughs and smiles brought me by four sweet grandchildren.
- Godly and wise parents who did everything in their power to get me started on the right foot.
- A loving Creator-God who sustains my life each moment of every day. (Job 33:4)
- Above all else, for a loving Savior who forgives my mistakes and lets me sleep guilt-free every night! (1 John 1:9)
When I am tempted to dissolve into a puddle of self-pity by the unfairness, pain, and problems of life (yes, I have those too!) I need to remind myself of the wisdom from an unknown author: “If you can’t be thankful for what you receive, be thankful for what you escape.” That in turn helps me be thankful in all circumstances (I Thessalonians 5:8)!
Now it is your turn. Sharing what you are thankful for will bless others and help you improve your health!