Gratitude List

[madison1101]

Years ago, I was on the pity pot, feeling sorry for myself, and my therapist suggested I make a daily gratitude list. I started doing that, and it really helped my recovery, and my overall disposition. This past Sunday, my pastor compared Giving Thanks to Living Thanks. He emphasized that we should give thanks daily, not one day a year. He also emphasized why God is worthy of our thanks.

So, here is my gratitude list.

1. God's awesome love.
2. God's never ending grace and forgiveness.
3. My health.
4. My sobriety.
5. My children.
6. My grandchildren.
7. My family.
8. My sponsor and other AA and recovering friends.
9. My medical insurance.
10. My therapist.
11. My church.
12. God's Word.
13. God's provision.
14. My Spiritual Gifts.
15. The talents that God has given me.
16. The ability to minister to the homeless.
17. My crazy, hyper dog.,
18. My cozy apartment.
19. Heat and food.
20. The opportunity to see two of my children tomorrow.
21. The opportunity to visit my grandchildren and my daughter on Saturday for a week.

What are you grateful for?

Happy Thanksgiving.

Trish Reilly

 

[Chaplain David]

Years ago, I was on the pity pot, feeling sorry for myself, and my therapist suggested I make a daily gratitude list....

This is an excellent idea and I've done it before too. I'm going to take a slightly different approach and add things to it periodically. I believe reviewing it will be helpful.

God - I'm grateful to our Triune God for saving me, sinner and imperfect as I am, and accepting me warts and all with more love than is imaginable. He guides and directs me with the only problems occuring when I do not listen or pay attention. I'm also grateful for His calling me into ministry and for my ministry of chaplaining, ministering to the needs of patients and staff where I work. I'm grateful for all He has provided to me with every good thing I know, coming from His grace. I am strong in Him and without Him I am nothing. He is also responsible for all the things that I have to be grateful for and I will never, ever be able to repay Him. His love is so great. He is awesome and worthy to be praised.

My Church - They loved and helped me as a baby Christian and did the same for my wife. Their Guidance, inspired by the Holy Spirit, helped me deepen my walk with Christ and teach me about Scripture, the love of God, the Gospel, and Christian living. The support of my pastor helped us in every way and ultimately led to my ordination. The Body of Christ in my church is part of my family.

Sobriety - I was blessed with the program of AA to help me get and stay clean and sober and in AA. My meetings are supportive beyond measure and my sponsor is a wonderful man.

My Life - I've had a good life despite problems, many of which are of my own making, and I look forward to what is yet to come.

My Wife -I've been graced with the most fantastic woman whose loved and cared for me for 38 years. She's also with God coming first, instrumental for teaching me how to love and how to love better. It is in loving that we are able to love more and better.

My Family - My father and mother are deceased but I had them for many decades. The things they taught me are still with me today. My values and love for God began with their guidance and teaching.

My Friends - I've not had many friends but they've been good ones. I thank God for them and everything else at least daily.

Christian Forums - Here I've been able to minister, be ministered to, share, debate and discuss so many things. I'm thankful for the owner, the staff, and members of CF for enriching my life and helping me so much these past years.

Food and Lodging - I have a nice home and we've plenty to eat. This is no small thing.

Finances - Despite starting out poor we're in good shape now praise God.

I'm going to stop here and add to it as time passes. I know there are many other things that will be added to this list but I think this is a good start.

 

[RuthD]

Great idea!
I am grateful for:

Jesus, all he is and all of what he does for others and myself.
Jesus, I was almost dead and he brought me back to life.
Jesus for making me believe that I am here for a purpose.
For having a roof over my head and all the useful things inside including food.
My birdies with their ever loving love of life.
My good health.
For the friends he is going to bring into my life.
For the love of my family of brothers and sisters.
For the many years I had with my parents who are gone now.
For all the people throughout my life who have cared and helped me.
For making me able to be of some help to others.