Think about it. We live in the greatest country in all the world. Even the poorest among us have much more than the richest of other countries. We are allowed to worship the way we choose and if someone chooses not to, that is their right. We have social programs to assist the less fortunate and a government, though it may not be perfect, is the best in the world. I'm sure you could add to the list of benefits each of us enjoy and for which we should be thankful. I'm confident we would all agree, we are a very blessed people.
Too many times, we allow our circumstances to determine our attitude of gratitude. If our smart phones don't act too smart, it ruins our day. If our latte isn't quite right, it ruins our day. If we have to wait just a little too long to order, it ruins our day. If we have to use the automated system when calling a service provider, it ruins our day.... ok, maybe that one is justified:) But really, should these small inconveniences have such a big impact on our attitude? I think we all know the answer to that question! You see, our circumstances should not determine our thankfulness! We have too much to be thankful for, to get upset about such minor problems.
So, what would happen if we changed our thinking and refused to allow "things" to impact our attitude? What if we took the time to thank those who provide us service? A while back, I tried a little experiment and was pleased at the result. I happened to be outside when our "garbage man" came by to empty our garbage. I made a point of walking over and telling him "thank you for doing such a good job." This man's face lit up with a big smile and you could tell how much he appreciated it. Guess what, I felt pretty good also, knowing I had put a smile on that guy's face. The impact of this small token of appreciation made me realize how easy it would be, to make our world a better place, if we all just took the time to show appreciation. Now I admit, I often get too busy and too caught up in my own world to take the time to consistently show my appreciation, but that is no excuse. Think about the change we can bring to the world of others, if we made a concerted effort to show our gratefulness. Guess what, it would make us feel better as well.
So what do you say? Let's all take the time every day to show our appreciation and make some one's day brighter. Try it. You will like the results. I guarantee it!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
