What are you grateful for?
When does praise come across your lips easily?
When is it most difficult for you to give thanks?
A friend asked us to ponder these questions this week and I realized that gratitude starts with the perspective. Before we open our lips in praise, we have to tune our hearts and focus our eyes on beauty.
In a world that propagates hatred, destruction and suffering, it’s difficult to find things we could be grateful for because all we see is negativity.
In a week when my calendar is filled to the brim and I am stressed on the outside and constantly nervous on the inside, it’s a real challenge to take some time out and give thanks.
And yet, it is crucial to our entire physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
If we speak praise into our busy schedules , we open up space for rest and restoration.
If we give thanks in the midst of the shadows, we unlock strength and courage and a deep well of joy inside us.
If we call out beauty in the places and people around us, something inside us will change.
We will see light in the darkness, hope in the brokenness, divine in the mundane. Gratitude is the greatest gift we could give to our souls.
So, here’s the challenge:
- Watch out for beauty today. Look at the environment you’re in today. What do you see?
- Look at the people around you. Tell someone they’re beautiful. Praise them for what they do and who they are. Acknowledge their presence in your life.
Writing for Five Minute Friday today.
featured photo: Yeshi Kangrang on unsplash
thisiskatha.com 
Well-said, Katha. I take every opportunity to tell barb how much I admire her, both in her work and at home, because she’s going to have to live off the memory of those compliments some day soon.
Oh, this is a very good remark, Andrew! If we want to leave a good legacy behind, we have to start creating it now.
Good words, thank you. FMF37
Thanks, Michelle!
This is just lovely, neighbor! Well done!
Thanks, neighbor! It was lovely to read you today.
We are so not good at listing our blessings. Trying to pay more attention and give praise to God. I’m in the 35 spot this week.
Exactly, I’m basically preaching to myself today. 🙂
May we maintain our focus on God, for as we do, we will notice His activity in our life every day. So glad to have stopped here this morning!
Thank you, Joanne!