Why give thanks?

We regularly hear the importance of being grateful. So, is it possible to be grateful in times of anguish and suffering? This year has been one of many challenges and difficulties. We have faced our personal and family challenges integrated with Covid-19, which has undoubtedly changed our lives. How can we give thanks after all this? After the loss of a job, business, finances and even the illness or departure of a loved one. It remains for us to understand what the meaning of gratitude is because it is not joy that makes us grateful, rather, gratitude produces us joy.

Gratitude and Happiness

Gratitude has been a topic of philosophy and theology, however, through positive psychology it has also been a matter of study. According to Peterson and Seligman (2004), gratitude is the recognition of positive aspects of the past and present that have given pleasant meaning to our existence. It is interesting to note that gratitude has a positive correlation with prosocial behaviors, positive emotions, life satisfaction, optimism, hope, vitality and subjective perception of happiness (Moyano, 2010). Some have linked gratitude as what the person perceives they have benefited from and the idea of ​​obtaining “undeserved merit.”

Gratitude is the virtue of character that esteems what has been received from our Creator and Provider (James 1:17). Giving thanks is a conscious attitude that includes our way of thinking, feeling and acting. For this reason, it is the wonder of the union between word and action. The Bible exhorts us to give thanks to God in everything (1 Thes. 5:18). I believe that giving thanks must go beyond gratitude for moments of joy, it must also be manifested in difficult moments because trials produce in us a patience that does the complete work of God in us (James 1:3- 5).

Gratitude vs. Selfishness

Gratitude consumes selfishness because it brings back pleasant memories and attributes to it a meaning full of life, love and hope. I extend the invitation to you to look back with a vision of gratitude and identify at least three (3) moments, events or experiences in which you show gratitude and serve as inspiration in the moments where ingratitude or bitterness want to take part in your life. heart.

Today we pray, and we pray, thanking God for the happy moments and those that are not so happy because at the end of the day, when we give thanks, we are blessed in Jesus Christ because in his presence there is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11) . May gratitude be shown by everyone and for everyone from the heart. Thank you, thank you and thank you!

References:

Moyano, NC (2010). Gratitude in positive psychology. Psychodebate. Psychology, Culture and Society , (10), 103-118.

Peterson, C. & Seligman, M.P. (2004) , Character Strengths and Virtues: a handbook and classification . Washington DC: American Psychology Association.

Reina Valera, 1960, 1 Thessalonians 5;18.

Reina Valera, 1960, James 1;3-5.

Reina Valera, 1960, Psalms 16;11.

Photo by Morvanic Lee