Unlocking the Fullness of Life

I have a friend who has battled depression over the years, and she tells me that every day, without fail she writes in her gratitude journal. Every day without fail, she lists 10 things that she’s thankful for. Not generic things – not just: Oh, I’m thankful for friends and family, but much more specific:

I’m thankful for the smell of fresh-brewed coffee first thing in the morning; the shade and sunlight at play on the trees in the late afternoon; the dog curled up on her bed next to the fire; the phone call from my daughter and her easy laughter; the quiet stillness of my grandchild breathing – sound asleep after a full day of play.

I think about an elderly couple I regularly see holding hands in worship. A young man and older gentleman walking together to help fight hunger. The strong cry of a three-month-old baby, baby Legend, held tight in the arms of a friend who is now this baby’s adopted mother. I think about the prayer of a granddaughter so eloquently spoken at the hospice bedside of her grandmother – and the tenderness of the touch between them.

My friend tells me that without fail this exercise, naming just 10 things, leaves her feeling alive, hopeful, and ready for the day.

Author Melody Beattie once wrote, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more… It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

All of that said, gratitude is a discipline in that it involves a conscious effort. It is a choice. Today, may you notice the gifts around you as gifts. May you reflect on what difference Christ has made in your life, your faith community, and your faith. May you give thanks. And may you respond with all of your heart.

Let us pray: As we approach Christmas, O God, we remember the gift of your Son and your unconditional love for each one of us. We don’t have to look far to see how your blessings abound. We do indeed return our deepest gratitude. And in response, we ask you to use our lives, our words, and deeds to bless others. We pray in Christ. Amen.