What is gratitude?
A response to a gift.
A thankful disposition of mind and heart.
The bible says: In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This applies not only to receiving things, but also to receiving others and circumstances.
We are told to be grateful in all circumstances, whether the situation is good or bad, whether others have done right by you or if they have wronged you. People are placed in our lives to help us to share, grow, and learn. We are called to receive them into our lives through relationship.
We share in one another’s lives and experiences. We go through things together to help us to have a stronger connection with each other. We share our highs and lows and we bond when those moments are shared. Whether they are good or bad, those shared experiences help us to be grateful that we have gone through something with another person.
From these shared experiences, through relationships, we grow and become more of the person we are created to be. If we never go through the ups and downs, we will never have a chance to grow through the good, the bad, and the ugly. In growing, we are given the opportunity to celebrate the good, to be challenged in the bad, and to overcome the ugly. We grow in our personal understanding of what it means to be grateful for the experiences in our lives.
We learn to be grateful through everything that is thrown our way. Whether we can see it there in the moment, or after some time has passed. We learn to be grateful for the lessons life teaches us. Sometimes it is an easy lesson to learn, other times it is a harsh truth that you have to come to terms with. It’s about learning to be grateful in all things, no matter what comes our way.
Through all different life events we are able to be grateful for others when we share experiences, when we grow through the good and bad times, and we learn from each situation that is placed before us. Relationship helps to reveal our true identity.