Advent Attitude? Gratitude!

I try to remember every morning -- when I sit up in bed and plant my feet on the floor -- to begin the day with a litany of gratitude. It was easy today. I thanked God for central heating (It's really cold this morning.) and for giving gifts to the inventors who've make our modern life so comfortable. 

Remembering Those Who Have Gone Before Us and Saying Thank You!

Today is my oldest sibling's birthday, my brother Ray. The first of ten living children he began his life in Hawaii when my dad, a recent Naval Academy grad, was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Ray always called himself the youngest Pearl Harbor survivor since my mom was only a few weeks pregnant when evacuated to the mainland. Ray ended his life here in Woodstock and continues to be loved and missed. 

Sunday Meditation: Control of the Thoughts, a Prescription for Spiritual Health

Today has offered a continual reminder that one of the keys to happiness is to control our thoughts. A constant litany of negativity is the quickest way to discouragement and depression. When I was on Facebook this morning, I came across a video of Zig Ziglar. It intrigued me so I took a look at his bio. His life wasn't all roses and bonbons. His father died when he was only six years old and his baby sister died two days later. His family was poor. He was a salesman who struggled to make enough to take care of his family. And yet, he never gave up and ended up a successful motivational speakers helping millions of people "overcome obstacles." Here's just one short video with an important message about life.

New Year's Resolution Check-Up and Poinsettas in February

So, how are you doing on your new year's resolution?  Do you remember what it was? Or did you make one at all?

For year's I made and abandoned mine by mid January, but then I decided to pick things that are very specific and doable. Resolving to "lose weight" is a loser. Resolving to eat no more than one sweet a day is a more likely winner.

A few years ago

New Year's Resolution Time

Don't wait til the last minute to consider your new year's resolution. My policy is to:

 1) Keep it simple.
 2) Keep it realistic.
 3) Check up on myself regularly to see how I'm doing.  

Two years ago I decided not to buy a single new item of clothing during the year and I kept it. But I'm not sure that it had all that much benefit except in the thrift department. Frankly, I can't remember what I resolved last year which a pretty definite sign that I didn't follow through since the year isn't finished yet.

This year I've already decided what I'm going to do and I want to keep my own three rules and maybe add a fourth -- pick something that will help you grow in virtue.. Since gratitude is the parent of all the other virtues, I'm going to thank God every day (in the morning) for ten specific things. And I'm going to keep a thanksgiving book with my daily gratitude list. At the end of the week I'll look back and see what I wrote down as I prepare for the next week.

I think this will not only have a big impact on my day, but help me to realize at the end of the week just exactly how blessed I am!

Have you thought about making a new year's resolution? What do you plan to do?

Feeling bad? Try a little gratitude!

One of the things that always struck me about G.K. Chesterton is that he practiced gratitude for everything. He said, why just say grace before meals? Say grace before everything. I thought of him when I read Ben Stein's article this morning. Thank you, Lord, for another day. Help me to realize what a paradise it really is with its simple pleasures. Help me today to practice an attitude of gratitude.

Just another day in paradise.