2. The role of a parent can
sometimes be a
thankless job. When they
get married, and have
their own children, then
they recognize the extent
to which we gave
unconditionally, maybe
we get a “thank you”. But
we seldom hear it.
3. It’s not natural for us to
be thankful. Our first
instinct is to complain.
4. When it rains, we
react by cursing the
heavens. Not realizing
that we need that
same rain for water to
survive.
5. You may be wondering, “But how can I be
thankful for pain and heartache?” I’m
not saying we have to be thankful for
everything, but to be grateful IN everything.
6. There’s a difference between thankfulness and
gratitude. We’re thankful BECAUSE of
something good we experience. We’re grateful
IN SPITE OF what happens. One requires
something we’re thankful for, the other is a
state of being.
7. it’s challenging to be
thankful, especially when
business is slow, when
economy is bad, when
our lives take a bad turn,
when relationships in our
families break down.
8. But having an attitude of
gratitude is not
dependent on how things
turn out – it’s dependent
on our attitude NO
MATTER how things turn
out.
9. The best time to practice being grateful is
when times are bad.
10. So, the next time you
can’t see the silver
lining in the dark
clouds, when you feel
out of control, when
you don’t see a way
out, just because you
don’t experience a
breakthrough in your
life, doesn’t mean you’ll
never experience a
breakthrough
eventually.
11. In the end, it will be
okay. If it’s not ok, it’s
not the end.
12. A heart of gratitude must be cultivated, and can
be a sacrifice of time and effort.
13. Just like a parent invests
their time and effort to
cultivate good values and
attitudes in their children,
in spite of not seeing the
“payoff” at the end of the
day.
14. But ultimately when our
“investment” matures,
the feeling that
accompanies it is
satisfying and fulfilling.
