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The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Gratitude is something which is very important to me and something I’m passionate about. Regardless of how big or small, our gratefulness is not dictated by the size of the gift, but by the heart of appreciation.

Peter and I have always raised our children not to just BE grateful, but to SHOW gratitude.

While readying for one of our trips to America, my two daughters packed stationary pads because they wanted to write thank you cards if anyone did anything for them whilst we were away. It warmed my heart to see them proactively take steps to ensure they could show gratitude.

Miss Carolyn Savelle once told me she and Brother Jerry always found it astounding when they bought my children anything—from a milkshake to an entire set of Dallas Cowboys gear—their level of gratefulness was always the same. The kids were thankful for EVERYTHING and always went out of their way to show and express their gratitude.

I remember talking to Miss Carolyn about the topic of gratitude whilst shopping together. We found a magnet which said, “Gratitude Attracts Miracles” and we both commented on how true that statement is. When someone shows TRUE gratitude, it automatically makes you want to do more for them. If I give someone a gift, even a little gift, and they show heartfelt gratitude, my response is I want to do more for them. What else can I do? How else can I bless them? Their response attracts my desire to do more.

But is this just a natural response? Or could it be a spiritual law? Does our gratitude attract the God of miracles to do more for us, both directly from Him and through people?

Whilst preparing this article, God brought a word to my spirit: “PERFUNCTORY”.

Perfunctory: an action carried out without any feeling or interest.

It’s vital our gratitude is heartfelt and true, not perfunctory. If I go out of my way to bless someone and sow a significant seed into their life, my heart doesn’t jump for joy if I simply get a “Thanks” text reply. To me, that’s a perfunctory response to gratitude.

There are other people who, like my daughters, have stationary pads waiting in the shadows, so they are ready to show their gratefulness and thanks.

Gratitude is the closing of a circle.

If you’re believing for something and then receive the answer, gratitude is what closes the process (or circle)! Sadly, many people stop at the receiving point and never complete the process.

The greatest Bible example is the story of the leper (Luke 17). What is interesting is the one leper who returned and expressed gratitude to Jesus is the only leper recorded as being made “whole”. The Bible states Jesus healed all ten lepers, but in ‘closing the circle’, this one leper became whole.

Where should gratitude start?

We start by showing our heartfelt gratitude to God!

How grateful are you for everything He has done for you? How often do you share your gratefulness with Him? Do you have a stationary pad in your back pocket to write God a thank you note for every small and big thing He does?

I want to live my life in a state of gratefulness. Whether God suddenly provides tens of thousands of dollars for a need or whether I’m able to get a front row parking spot at the shops, I want to show God my heartfelt thanks. I want to recognise and be thankful for EVERYTHING God has done. And I never want to take for granted what God or people in my life do for me.

My challenge for July.

I challenge you to dedicate July as a “month of gratitude” and express your gratitude for every good thing that happens in your life; from the big to the small. Purposely show your gratitude to God and people.

The Comms Team asked me to post something every day in July on Breakthrough’s social media accounts (www.breakthrough.org.au/socials), expressing what I’m grateful for. I’d like to share the same challenge with you. Can you stop and express gratitude for one specific thing every day during July?

Let’s march into the second half of 2024 with genuine—not perfunctory—gratitude.

 

#BreakthroughsMonthOfGratitude