A Heart of Gratitude

I wake up each morning grateful for one more day. After surviving five pulmonary embolisms, when many people do not survive even one, the gift of life has taken on a deeper meaning for me. I have always thanked God for my life, but these experiences have made my gratitude more personal and profound. God has been my caretaker, and I feel blessed to be here to share that testimony. Each new day is an opportunity to enjoy the blessings God places in my life: my daughters, my husband, my family, and my friends. I’m grateful I can serve God, worship Him, and praise His name, not only with my words, but in how I live. Gratitude helps me notice the small blessings woven into ordinary days, value what matters most, and experience life more fully.

Gratitude is a way of living; being grateful is more than saying “thank you.” It means choosing to live with an awareness of God’s goodness and expressing our thanks to Him and the people around us. We can be thankful for life’s great blessings, as well as the quiet, everyday gifts we might otherwise overlook. Psalm 100:4–5 reminds us: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, into his courts with praise: praise him, bless his name. For the LORD is good; forever is his mercy, and the truth of it for all generations.” Thanksgiving can become part of our daily lives. God invites us to recognize His blessings and respond with grateful hearts.

Jesus teaches us to give thanks; He is the best example of living a life with gratitude. Gratitude is an important part of our walk with Jesus, and it is a habit worth teaching our children. In Luke 17:11–19, Jesus heals ten men with leprosy. As they go to show themselves to the priests, they are healed. One man, realizing what has happened, turns back. He praises God, falls at Jesus’ feet, and thanks Him. Jesus asks where the other nine are and tells the grateful man, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

At that time, people with leprosy were often separated from their communities. Jesus’ healing meant more than restored health: it gave these men the chance to return to their lives and relationships. All ten received healing, but only one came back to give thanks. His example reminds us to pause, recognize the people who bless us, and express our gratitude.

Some days, gratitude comes easily; on others, it helps to pause and look for the good in the details of our lives. We can give thanks for:

• The gift of life and the chance to begin a new day

• God’s love, care, mercy, and guidance

• Family, friends, and people who stand beside us

• Health, healing, strength, and the support we receive through difficult times

• A safe place to live, food to eat, and other daily needs

• Opportunities to learn, work, serve, and grow

• Moments of laughter, rest, beauty, and peace

• Kind words, helping hands, and unexpected acts of generosity

• The lessons and hope we find in challenging seasons

  
  

We should ask ourselves: Who can we thank today? When was the last time you thanked God for the blessings in your life? When did you last thank a coworker, your supervisor, your partner, or someone who has helped you along the way? This week, reach out to someone good to you. Let them know that you value them and appreciate their care, encouragement, or support. Give thanks to those who blessed you in the past and to the ones who continue to stand by your side. But above all, give thanks to God, the giver of every good gift, whose love is unconditional. May we carry grateful hearts into each day and share that gratitude through the way we live.