Be Grateful!

Looking into heaven, He blessed, broke and gave the bread to 5000! I believe He gave thanks! With an upward look, it seems to me that the Son was giving thanks to the Father for the food that was being provided. This wonderful miracle causes me to stop and realize that miracles follow thanks giving. So often our attitude determines so much in our lives. If we could merely be “grateful” I wonder what type of increase we would experience in our daily lives.The gospel this morning reminded be to be grateful.Ps 118:1   Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.NKJVWhen life gets hectic and you begin to feel overwhelmed, take a moment to focus on the people and things you are grateful for in life. When you are grateful, other things will fall by the wayside. For example, you probably won’t be able to feel jealous and grateful at the same time. You might even be thankful for someone else’s success or their contribution to you. Being thankful gives you perspective on your situation and brings you into the present moment.One of the most impressive reasons for being grateful is the positive impact on the way you think and feel. Research shows that grateful people have, “higher reported levels of the positive states of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy . . .”You will find a positive emotional state by simply focusing on the parts of your life that you are most thankful for. Appreciate the abundance in your life. Being grateful is an energizing way to start your day and a relaxing way to end it.One of the things that I learned to do was to list out all the things you are grateful for as you warm up for your morning exercise.Feeling gratitude is an important practice that I have brought into my daily routine. I notice that it has improved my emotional wellbeing and general happiness.