I’m ashamed to admit that gratitude is something I take for granted.  In the midst of the comings and goings and doings of life, there is much I forget and disregard and feel entitled to.  I don’t get up each morning and thank God for health.  I don’t drive to work each day thanking God for a job.  I don’t sit down with my plain Greek yogurt for lunch thanking God for having food to eat.  And, I’m not always grateful for my children.  It’s not that I am ungrateful, or that I don’t thank God for things–I just don’t make a lifestyle of it.  And that is something I need to do.

This song, from one of my favorite Christian groups, reminds me of the need and beauty of making gratitude a lifestyle choice.  It’s called “Sacred” by Caedmon’s Call.

I think living a lifestyle of gratitude involves more than just saying “I’m grateful for…” or even feeling the emotion of gratitude.  I think a lifestyle of gratitude involves an entire shift in perspective and focus.  I think it involves letting go of everything we think we need/desire/want/aspire to/dream of and simply embracing and living and reveling in the sacred moment that is the present.  It’s saying, “I’m here.  God’s here.  We’re okay.”

A lifestyle of gratitude is jumping into each day with both feet, following the current wherever God leads, being ready to serve and give and love with all that we are.

A lifestyle of gratitude involves accepting the fact that life is not always beautiful or clean or holy or praiseworthy, but still committing to hope.  It’s acknowledging the Light that is present even in the midst of our deepest darkness.  And sometimes, living a lifestyle of gratitude means walking into someone else’s darkness and bringing them that Light.

A lifestyle of gratitude is something I aspire to.  God and I have a lot of work to do in order to get there, but I am making progress each and every day.  And the fact that God would keep chiseling away is something I am truly grateful for.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara