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In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you… (I Thessalonians 5.18, AV)
I preached a sermon on gratitude. I offered a simple exercise. Take each letter of the alphabet. In prayer, give gratitude to God for something that begins with each letter. A friend and member replied later about how much that simple instruction helped him. I was delighted, for it has helped me, as I have practiced it over the years. However, I admit that the exercise can be challenging when I get to the letters x and, then, z. The exercise is fun and beneficial. Why not try it, now?
There are basically two types of persons: grateful, ungrateful. Mother Teresa told this story in a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, 1994:
One evening we went out, and we picked up four people from the street. One of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the sisters, “You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks the worst.” So I did for her all that my love could do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand as she said two words only: “Thank you.” Then she died.
I could not help but examine my conscience before her. What would I say if I were in her place? My answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said, “I am hungry, I am dying, I am in pain,” or something. But she gave me much more; she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face.
We, too, can be grateful persons or become more grateful persons. And, to become grateful persons or more grateful persons is simple. The way to growing gratitude concerns the transmutation and use of energy.
In spiritual transformation, we introduce and assimilate positive energies that transmute negative energies. This process of transmutation is like the alchemists who sought to transmute common metal into gold through a process of learned transformation. The belief was gold is inherent in common metal, not external to it. Likewise, in spiritual alchemy we trust that positive energy is within the negative energy. Hate can become love, even as love can become hate, also, for negative energy, or potential, inheres in the positive energy.
The passage I Thessalonians 5.18 provides us some important lessons in gratitude. Gratitude is, like all else, an expression of energy. Gratitude can become the transmuted energy of ungratefulness, even as ungratefulness can be transmuted into gratitude. That is right, the very energy of complaint and discontent can become the expression of thankfulness.
First, the Thessalonians passage provides us a temporal context for gratitude. “In every thing” indicates to be thankful in all situations. Is that not a hopeful message? There is always something we can be grateful for, regardless of circumstances. Likewise, when we are assailed by negative energy, expressing gratitude, even when we do not feel grateful, releases a positive energy in our bodies.
Second, the Scripture notes the willful expression of gratitude: “give thanks.” The Greek is from eucharisteo, from which we get the word Eucharist. This implies that the will must be engaged to be a grateful person, a eucharistic person. Indeed, we each have plenty of potential reasons for not being grateful, even as we have plenty of potential reasons for being thankful. Yes, sometimes gratitude seems to be spontaneous, but we cannot rely on such spontaneity always. To be grateful consistently, we choose to be grateful, we decide to express thankfulness, we give thanks.
Third, the Thessalonians text gives us a motivating rationale for expression of gratitude. Such expression is the “will of God.” Gratitude is natural, for such expression arises from and complements the nature of the Divine. Being grateful is a response to a relationship with our Creator. At times, we might find that expressing thankfulness must be rooted in something more immense than ourselves, and that something more immense is God.
Fourth, there is an atemporal context for gratitude. “In Christ” refers to our union with God-in-Christ, in the Word, which is participation in the life of God. Again, this concerns a relationship, a mystical relationship in which our being participates in the being of the Word, eternally.
Fifth, the personal response is noted in the words “concerning you.” Again, this concerns relationship. While God wills that all persons enjoy the expression of gratitude, for you, God wills for you to enjoy the expression of gratitude. To do so calls for a personal decision to see gratitude as a fulfillment of the will of the Divine for your life. Even when other persons around you do not express gratitude, you can.
To transmute the energies oppositional to gratitude, I encourage you to memorize and meditate on I Thessalonians 5.18. Pray to God to help you to express gratitude. Choose to express gratitude. Express gratitude. Each day, begin the day with gratitude, take gratitude breaks throughout the day, and conclude the day with thankfulness. And, when you do not feel grateful, express gratefulness, anyway.
What will happen if you practice this expression of gratitude? You will find yourself feeling more grateful. You will find yourself a person with an attitude of gratitude.
Exercise: For a day, begin the day with a few minutes of thanksgiving, take gratitude breaks of one to a few minutes during the day, and spend a few minutes in thankfulness before going to sleep at night. What was the experience like for you?
OneLife Ministries is a pastoral outreach and nurture ministry of the First United Methodist Church, Fort Meade, FL. For Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling, spiritual formation workshops, Christian meditation retreats, or more information about OneLife, write Rev. Dr. Brian K. Wilcox at briankwilcox@comcast.net.
Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union, can be ordered through major bookdealers.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
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