November 2009 Meditation

For many of us, some of the first words our parents taught us were “please” and “thank you”. They were attempting to teach us to be polite and hoped that we would become thankful. It was the right thing to do, but parents do not have the power to make it a matter of the heart. Heart is something that comes with time. It comes by meditating on what we are thankful for. The more we think about the good in our lives…… the more thankful we become.

My thoughts about thankfulness are related to being kind. I find that grateful people are kind and kind people are thankful. As I began to study what the word means, just one word didn’t relate to the heart of the matter, so please endure the definitions of these words. I believe as you think about them, you will come to a greater understanding and get to the heart of being a grateful, thankful person.

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GRATEFUL – feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful; a feeling of being thankful to somebody for doing something

  Synonyms – thankful, appreciative, indebted, obliged, obligated, in someone’s debt, beholden

GRATITUDE – the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness

  Synonyms - gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks, appreciation, indebtedness, recognition, acknowledgment, credit

THANKFUL – pleased and relieved; expressing gratitude and relief; 

  Synonyms – grateful, appreciative, filled with gratitude, relieved, pleased

THANK – express gratitude to (someone), especially by saying “Thank you”; expressing feelings of gratitude to somebody

  Synonyms - Express gratitude to, show one’s thanks to, offer/extend thanks to, say thank you, offer appreciation to, recognize, bless, credit

APPRECIATION – The recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something; sensitive understanding for the aesthetic value of something; a feeling or expression of gratitude; a favorable opinion of something; a full understanding of the meaning and importance of something

Synonyms - gratitude, thanks, thankfulness, gratefulness, recognition, obligation, valuing, treasuring, admiration, respect, regard, esteem, high opinion, acknowledgment, awareness, consciousness, recognition, realization, knowledge, understanding, comprehension

Antonym – ingratitude, unawareness

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I hope these words speak to you concerning the heart of what it means to live with a grateful heart. I like the definition of appreciation – to understand the value, meaning or importance of something. It is imperative that we see the value of people and things in our life. As we do, we will become more and more thankful.

When we are in unfavorable situations, we can choose to focus on the good in life so that it or they do not get the best of us. Deciding to be thankful will prevent us from becoming bitter and negative. Our gratitude should always be directed to the Lord. Having the Lord is more than enough to be grateful for and it will last throughout eternity.

There are many scriptures that can inspire us to be thankful. Here is a small sample. I pray they encourage you to evaluate your perspective and you make the decision to become a truly grateful person.

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Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)*
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 (CEV)*
Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.

Psalms 100:4 (NKJV)* 
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Colossians 4:2 (NLT)*
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

1Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)* 
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1Thessalonians 5:18 In every circumstance of life be thankful; for this is God’s will in Christ Jesus respecting you. (Weymouth)

Hebrews 12:28 (NLT)*
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Hebrews 12:28 (Message)
Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander.

Psalms 50:14 (CEV)*
I am God Most High! The only sacrifice I want is for you to be thankful and to keep your word.

Psalms 50:2e (CEV)*
The sacrifice that honors me  is a thankful heart. Obey me, and I, your God, will show my power to save.

Psalms 69:30 (CEV)*
I will praise the LORD God with a song  and a thankful heart.

Psalms 118:1 (CEV)*
Tell the LORD how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful.

Psalms 116:17 (CEV)*
I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray.

Colossians 1:12 (CEV)*
I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you  have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 2:7 (CEV)*
Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.

Psalms 63:6 (Message) 
If I’m sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection.