Article November 16, 2009 Issue

THANKFUL LIVING

A commitment to gratitude brings "a radical shift in perspective" and lifelong blessings.

BY ANNETTE BRIDGES

First appeared on spirituality.com on November 20, 2007

"There is always, always, always something to be thankful for," the sign said. I chuckled reading the three "always." And I thought, yes, sometimes I need extra encouragement to remember that.

Too often there have been times in my life when I've put off being thankful, saying to myself: I'll be thankful when I get accepted to my college of choice, I'll be thankful when I meet my husband, I'll be thankful when we build a new house, or when I lose weight. I was fooled into believing that a certain culmination of events was required before thankfulness could be felt.

In each of these life-lessons, my prayers have taught me how a moment of gratitude can provide a radical shift in perspective, which reveals God's activity and presence all around me. These lessons remind me of Mary Baker Eddy's words: "Are we really grateful for the good already received? Then we shall avail ourselves of the blessings we have, and thus be fitted to receive more" (Science and Health, p. 3).