"Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of complaint. I can choose to be grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness and beauty even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly. I can choose to listen to the voices that forgive and to look at the faces that smile, even while I still hear words of revenge and see grimaces of hatred." -Henri J. M. Nouwen
Gratitude was my theme for 2013 and this was my devotional for Jan 1st. A fitting end to a year of gratitude. I think the words above are so true and I have experienced them personally. I have chosen gratitude on many occasions when in the past I would have chosen complaint, and I am a much happier and joy filled individual when I have chosen the former. I have found also, that after you have been doing this a while the above mentioned emotions and feelings that are steeped in hurt and resentment start to fade away with each choice of gratitude. Your positive outward choices start to effect your inward way of thinking.
Which brings me to my theme for 2014: JOY! I believe my change in attitude, namely the decision to be grateful, has produced a harvest of joy. God has filled me with a joy that just springs up in me at times. It is a wonderful feeling. I am content. I have learned to enjoy moments, special and ordinary, and I am not in a hurry to move on to what's coming next. It's a wonderful thing.
I am not naïve to believe that no more troubles will assail me, but at a time of relative calm in my life I am confident that what I have learned over the past 4 years will continue to be a living testimony about how to cherish each and every mountain and valley that comes my way, and that joy doesn't come at the end of that journey, the joy is in the journey.
