Gratitude is a choice. It is a conscious and deliberate decision to focus on life’s blessings rather than its shortcomings. –Tommy Newberry
Gratitude isn’t automatic—it’s the result of what we choose to focus on. And we will always have a choice. The reality of life is that we will invariably be surrounded by both good and bad. And since this is the case, the question we have to face is, Which will we choose to think about?
This doesn’t mean we ignore the tough or difficult or terrible things that take place—no, gratitude isn’t about minimizing or refusing to acknowledge these things. Rather, it’s recognizing that even in the midst of all of these, there are still good and beautiful things that merit our attention.
Choosing to focus on the good in the midst of the bad doesn’t magically change what’s wrong out there. But it will start to change us, which is ultimately more important. Because life is not about the circumstances we face, but about how we learn to live in the midst of them.
Note: The above quote was used in a recent sermon by Ryan Yazel (Ryan’s blog), who has been focusing on gratefulness the past couple weeks at Keller Park Church.