Being Grateful, Not Hateful

I heard a story about a large dog that walks into a butcher shop carrying a purse in its mouth. He puts the purse down and sits in front of the meat case. "What is it, boy?" the butcher jokingly asks. "Want to buy some meat?" "Woof!" barks the dog. "Hmm," says the butcher. "What kind? Liver, bacon, steak . . ." "Woof!" interrupts the dog. "And how much steak? Half a pound, one pound . . ." "Woof!" The amazed butcher wraps up the meat and finds the money in the dog’s purse. As the dog leaves a man waiting in line is watching everything that happened. He decides to follow the dog. The dog goes down the street and enters an apartment house, climbs to the third floor and begins scratching at a door. With that, the door swings open and an angry man starts shouting at the dog. The man who followed the dog home yells, "Stop! He’s the most intelligent animal I’ve ever seen!" The dog’s owner goes, "Intelligent? This is the third time this week he’s forgotten his key."
 
You ever feel like that guy who followed the dog home? You see something amazing and then it’s met with an unthankful response by others? Or maybe you relate more to the dog owner? You’ve got all kinds of blessings—money in the bank, food in the fridge, a loving family, friends, a church, health, a job, home and car—yet the only thing you focus on is the negative. It’s sometimes difficult to live in a world that seems ungrateful…and sometimes WE are the ones who are ungrateful.
 
Gratitude is fundamental to having a satisfying and meaningful life. We understand that work and play, community and our home, our investments, and even our service to others can add value and meaning to our lives. But many people have these things yet still feel like life is hopeless and has no meaning. The key to feeling contentment and joy is to live with gratitude. Gratitude has a way of putting things into their proper perspective. Through gratitude, we appreciate life's goodness, which compels us to pay it forward. Gratitude creates within us a deep sense of happiness which in turn enriches our relationships with family, nurtures our friendships, and makes living in our community and culture more pleasant.
 
Even though he was in prison when he wrote his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul was able to say, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3). In this Thanksgiving season, for what or who are you grateful? Say it out-loud.
 
Tyler

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