Cynthis Ozick wrote, “we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
Life without gratitude is worthless. Gratitude is at the core of every aspect of our life, in our socio-economic, political, and religious world. Even in our spiritual life, gratefulness is in every spiritual tradition.
The importance of gratitude in life can not be over emphasized, in living healthy, saving life, recognising our limitations, expressing our faith in God, appreciating efforts, overcoming fear, connecting to the world, and so on. There is nothing we have in this life that is our right, not even the air we breathe. They’re all privileges, and none should be taken for granted.
From all adults to all youths and children, let’s ask ourselves this: What do you take for granted? The air you breathe, the food and water you take, the house you live in, the family and friends you have, the education you have, the properties you possess? And many other blessings we take for granted. There is always, and always, something to be grateful for.
Life itself is so beautiful, and we’re lucky to be part of it. This beauty was more recognized and appreciated ages ago than recently when the modern world has exchanged the aura of gratefulness with the ethics of modernization. Children nowadays
are too hyper-critical and resentful to understand the place of gratitude. They lack the ability to exercise discipline over what they pay attention to and are easily falling back into entitlement and victimhood. Their mental mind is occupied by choices of easy roads of bountiful lives, which makes them easily get distressed, hardly pay attention to efforts, rarely value relationships, or notice occasions that call for gratitude.
Children and young adults who lack gratitude often get their consciousness beclouded by emotions of anger, and their ability to learn is usually compromised. They are not broadminded, and their expression of gratitude is usually elusive. Gratitude should be nurtured, practised, and groomed to be instilled deeply in every child conscious mind, to withstanding the adverse effects of modernisation. Australians still perform some rituals to teach their young to be grateful, which is worthy of emulation.
Children and young adults, no matter the condition life gives them, should ask themselves these questions: How convenient do I say thank you? Why should I always be in expectation to receive? How does my action disrupt the good things that come to me? Do I take a token of gifts for granted? Is my message of appreciation shorter than my message of request? Do I forget ten good deeds done to me and hold on to one bad deed done by the same person? Do I measure my gratitude by the weight or the price of the gift I received? How true is it that the favour I enjoy today may be the result of my parents’ good deed long ago? Do I sow such good seed for my future children? Why do I feel entitled over what is not mine and what I didn’t earn? Do I greet all elders around after a meal? Do I offer my time and skill to those who help me? Are there ways I can show practical gratitude for the help I received? How often do I send a heart-felt birthday shout to those who have helped me? Do I use my social media handles to appreciate them or advertise their business? Do I make a public appreciation but a private criticism? Am I aware that a well written note of thanks is like a footprint of appreciation? If I am a poet, a blogger, or an artist, have I tried to use these talents to appreciate someone?
These and many more should be a constant template of ways to show deep appreciation and be sincerely grateful for a lasting impression. Showing gratitude is powerful! Gratitide saves!
Even though one can not be grateful when confronted with tough situations like betrayal, violence, backbiting, unfaithfulness, exploitation, war, and so on. However, gratitude can help with discernment in finding an opportunity to be grateful in such a situation and capitalize on the positive instead of the negative. In finding this opportunity, one can learn to be happy rather than being distressed.
Living gratefully is the ultimate to a happy life.
Again, we should not only show gratitude but be truly grateful. Gratitude should not be a practice to “fulfil all righteousness” but a feeling of appreciation from the heart. Our drive is to be noticed, to be important, to be valued, to be influential, and to be an inspiration to others. Much as we expect to be appreciated in our drive, we should also appreciate, value, and be grateful to others. This makes a solid glue in a relationship.
The short-circuit pattern of behaviour amongst children and youths should be substituted by the feeling of gratitude instead of entitlement. The pattern of ‘what I want and what I say goes’, the urge to have their wishes prevail which always doesn’t bring happiness but anger and resentment. Gratitude overcomes this pattern, unites us with people, eliminates fear, and welcomes appreciation. This generation is losing the relish of gratitude and need to understand that the more grateful they are, the more good things come their way.
See bible verse, proverb, and riddle on gratitude.
BIBLE VERSE
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances,*for this is God’s
PROVERB
The river of blessings flows abundantly through the valley of gratitude
African Proverb
RIDDLE
I am your constant companion
Take me, train me,be firm with me,
and I will place the world at your feet
Who am I?
Amara Ann Unachukwu
