The Practice of Gratitude in the Small
The phone buzzes, the email comes through, you just remembered you had to return a call. The business of life can draw us away from quiet moments. These distractions can steal the joy of seeking the beauty of everyday moments that God wants us to pay attention to, the moments that could truly still us to the core of our being. Maybe you notice the flowers beginning to blossom on the way to work, your child comes in and gives you an unexpected hug, the light beams through the window in just the perfect way. These are quiet, sacred, and unexpected moments with Him.
In these moments of slowness and gratitude is where God desires to meet you. It says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” He does not rush us to be hurried, or taunt us with our to-do lists and the anxieties of this day, but He desires for us to be still and know who He is. The God who controls all things, all the details of your life, wants to show you the satisfaction and beauty of this life in Him, but it is in Him that we do that.
It is not in our schedules aligning, it is not in perfectly behaved children, success, or any other worldly forms of peace—it is in focusing our attention on the One who wants to give us this peace. It is turning to gratitude and praise in moments that seem mundane or small.
One exercise in practicing gratitude
One way to begin doing this is by taking something that you already see the Lord in, whether it is the flowers blossoming, exercise, scenic views, animals, or children, and just beginning to praise Him. Psalm 150:6 says “Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord.” Praise Him for how He made each of these things.
These praises and prayers naturally can become grounding techniques for those suffering from anxiety and depression. It brings us back to a moment-by-moment life. This is why we find many studies showing the benefits of activities like yoga and meditation for those suffering from trauma. It is a form of a grounding technique focusing on what is controllable at that moment. There is actually a whole area of study in psychology—called positive psychology—that studies the importance of what makes life worth living for, and gratitude has been proven to be a key role in the quality of life.
The need for a slowdown
Many times we are so focused on everyday needs and necessities that we forget to slow. We get distracted, and this is exactly what this world is trying to do: distract us from true satisfaction, true fulfillment in Christ.
We may find that at times it is difficult to slow down. Whether you have a toddler like myself, or you find yourself moving a million miles an hour to keep up with your schedule, we find ourselves in this bind. We don’t even recognize ourselves lifting up or lowering the importance of various areas of our lives.
A challenge for today
Today I challenge you to see the small, the mundane moments, the ways that God has cared for you. Even if it is in making a meal for your child, remember that there is life in your home and mouths to feed. Even through exercising, remember God has given us breath in our lungs and muscles to move our bodies. He is delighted when we are delighting in Him.
Let us recognize the small more often, and live a life more fully in Him.