The Gratitude Challenge: 30 days of Thankfulness

Day 1 of 30

I hope that as you read the short essays focusing solely on tales of gratitude, you too will be encouraged to do the same, and maybe share your experiences with others. ​

After a few reminders, clues, nudges, signs and messages directed towards me in various forms, I’ve decided to shift my focus to thankfulness, and embark on a journey of gratitude over the next month. 

This is something I hope to practice  beyond the 30 days, but for now, I will share some of my personal experiences in a bid to strengthen my belief in the power of gratitude and encourage others.

Our day to day existence, challenges, unexpected events, pain, struggles, and negativity often blanket and influence the way we see things. As a result, we become ungrateful as we find more and more reasons to complain, blame others and fear becomes our companion. The more we have things to worry about, the more we engage in unhealthy vices to cope with the increasing negative emotions. Result? We become even more resentful. The more miserable we become, the more we become impatient, angry, and more demanding, even in our prayer lives. 
 
We become dejected, stuck in a vicious cycle that keeps us trapped in mediocre lives and experiences. I hope by writing and sharing some of the things that I'm grateful for, I will be able to reflect on my journey, and focus on my personal growth. Although I haven’t been putting my thoughts on paper,  I’ve recenty been  geared towards the concept of gratitude. When a good friend of mine forwarded a video clip and encouraged me to write things down, she didn't know that I was trying to be more thankful in my approach, and had just started practising gratitude. Immediately took it as a sign! Her encouragement pushed me towards doing something about it, hence this challenge.
 
I hope that as you read the short essays focusing solely on tales of gratitude, you too will be encouraged to do the same, and maybe share your experiences with others. 
 ​
What is gratitude?
 
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, gratitude is, “the feeling of being grateful.” That sounds too simple to even comprehend, so the deep thinker in me has gone on a quest to find what gurus before us have discovered about thankfulness. 

Here are a few quotes on gratitude for your inspiration!

Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.
- Paulo Coelho

Gratitude is riches. Complaints is poverty.
- Doris Day

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
-Henri Matisse

Now that we’re comfortable in the knowledge that gratitude is a powerful force that even famous people acknowledge, let’s take a look at the greatest teacher of them all, the Bible. I am aware that some people will see a Bible verse and immediately switch off. However, we wouldn’t be doing ourselves any favours if we chose to ignore wisdom from the Bible. 
 
You may be surprised to learn that the Bible is packed with stories about the beauty of giving thanks. We learn that simple acts of gratitude please God, and when He is pleased with us, the Lord will do more for us. Isn’t that wonderful? Imagine being a parent to a child who you love with all your heart, and would do anything to make sure that they live a promising life. A life that is full and true. But the child rarely takes no notice of what you do as a parent, rarely engages with you, and when they do, they are complaining about the things that they don’t have, without even acknowledging what you’ve done for them. When they talk to you, you will know that they are either in trouble or want something. Would you be encouraged to give them more, even though you love them so very much? Wouldn’t you feel inclined to say NO, just to teach them important lessons?
 
For the purposes of this article, I will choose one verse: 

2 Corinthians 9:10-15 (NIV) 
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!  (Source - Bible Gateway)

Sharing tales of gratitude glorifies HIS name, and encourages others to do the same. That's my hope as I embark on the Gratitude Challenge, 2019.
 
Without further ado, let's move on to today's gratitude list. Because gratitude is a personal experience that I’d encourage each and everyone to cultivate, I will not share things that are deeply personal. However, I will try my best to deliver as much inspiration as possible, based on my day to day and past experiences. If you don’t mind typos and grammatical errors, please join me on my gratitude journey over the next 30 days. My freditor won’t be able to keep up with the articles due to other commitments, but what I will share with you is coming from my heart, straight to yours. 
 
Let’s begin!

It's a brand new day!

Day 1 

1. I am thankful for the gift of life and good health.
2. Today I enjoyed a lovely day in the garden, and am thankful that I could relax outside, soak in the sunshine, and observe signs of life around me. I’ve seen many birds of different feathers, some congregating in numbers to protect their territories and nests. The sound of birdsong uplifted my spirits. The bees brought a melody of their own, as they buzzed in circles, giving thankfulness for the lovely nectar in abundant supply. The blossom from a nearby cherry and apple tree endows the environment with prettiness. I feel beautiful too! The alluring flowers give me hope for new beginnings, a promise to look forward to.
3. I give thanks for spring, and that winter is showing signs of bowing down.​
4. Also grateful for Lord’s provision and protection. Through many ups, downs and uncertainty, he has never forsaken me and my family.
5. From beautiful friendships and people who accept and love me as I am, I am grateful for their support and belief in me. Without encouragement from my friends and my readers, writing would have been nothing but just a mere dream.
6. Thankful for the opportunity and ability to learn without restrictions. The sky is truly the limit!
7. I am truly grateful that I can look back on my life and realise that despite the tears and pain endured along the way, there has always been hope.
8. I am grateful for the ability to forgive those who have hurt me. I give thanks that on this day (Good Friday), the Lord died on the cross, that I may be saved and have eternal life. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be, but the Lord loves me still, even long before I knew him.
9. I am grateful for the gift of laughter, and the people who give me reasons to smile, and laugh till I shed tears of joy, even when hope seems lost.
10. Today, I am grateful that I overrode doubts and fears, and put my cynical views aside to begin this 30-Day Gratitude Challenge.​ 

continue to day 2 of 30-Day Gratitude challenge

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