Every evening after bellies have been comfortably filled and dinner conversations had, clean-up time arrives. Since I typically prepare the meals, our girls are responsible for clearing the table, rinsing the dishes, and loading/unloading the dishwasher. These aren’t difficult tasks, but obviously not the most enjoyable so it’s not uncommon for there to be a bit of bickering and groaning between the three of them as they work. 

Our typical routine shifted slightly this past month as we traveled back to Hawaii (where we lived for a decade) to take part in a good friend’s wedding. While we were there we lived like most middle-class locals — in a tiny indoor space, and I mean tiny! All 5 of us slept, ate, cooked, and showered in a 522 square foot studio. Everyday tasks took a little (ok, maybe a lot) more coordination. Breakfast could not be made until the bed was folded back into a couch. Dishes had to be scrapped in the trash because there was no garbage disposal and no dishwasher. We could not leave them out to dry because there was no counter space on which to set them. Minor inconveniences at the time, but it was amazing the perspective shift it offered my girls.

The first night we returned, they joyfully rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher. Absolutely no complaining. “It’s so much easier!” they happily chirped. However, as the week went on, the memory of the challenge faded and occasional grumbling began to resurface. The dishwasher was again a pain and dirty dishes gross.

Now it’s easy to point out that these kids lost perspective and are lacking gratitude, but the bigger question is how often do we as adults lose that same perspective and fail to model a thankful heart?

Let’s look at the account of the 10 lepers found in Luke 17. These 10 men, sick and outcast from society, heard Jesus was coming. They purposefully sought him out and boldly pleaded with him for healing. Jesus heard their cry and granted them mercy and healing, but the account specifically mentions that only 1 of the 10 (10%) came back to say thank you for this life-changing gift of health. 

Note how this man was described: “Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,  and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him” (Luke 17:15-16). This wasn’t a quick “thanks” or a private acknowledgement, this was a full on public announcement and act of extreme gratitude. Do we allow our gratitude to consume us like this man did? Do others around us, especially non-believers see how extremely grateful we are for our Father who gives us good gifts? I see this example as both an opportunity to share the power of Jesus and a call to action to be more grateful.  

When reading this account, it may be easy to think that we are more like the grateful man because most of us probably do give thanks on a regular basis, but for how many of our blessings do we say thank you for? We ask freely of God and lay all our worries at His feet and He hears us and grants us answers. God is faithful 100% of the time. My guess is that our offerings of thanksgiving are closer to the abysmal 10% that the group of lepers demonstrated. 

This is the season for thankfulness, so hopefully increased gratitude is on our hearts and minds right now, but what can we do throughout the year to form a consistent practice of thankfulness? After all, along with being a command from God, gratitude improves our physical and mental health as well as our outlook on life.

“Gratitude is literally one of the few things that can measurably change people’s lives.”

– Dr. Robert Emmons, a renowned researcher in the science of gratitude. 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High”.  – Psalm 50:14

Practical ways to increase gratitude:

1. Consciously notice. We are bombarded with so much information every moment of every day we tend to tune out. It is impossible to take everything in, so take a couple minutes each day to mindfully consider what you are thankful for. Try to name different things each day and thank God for them.

2. Say “thanks” more often. Did your spouse work today? Thank them for their efforts. Did your child or a co-worker help with a task? Express your gratitude. Did you notice how God answered a prayer or provided a way? Let God know you noticed by saying thank you.

3. Savor the good. When you are having a good day and all seems well in the world, pause and soak it in. From your feeling of contentment, thank God who made it possible.

4. Look for the good in the bad. It’s so easy to lose perspective when life goes awry. Consider how Joseph felt in the midst of being sold as a slave. Later his family and the nation of Egypt was saved through his challenging circumstances. Or imagine how Miriam must have felt giving up her beloved child. Her pain for a time led to a nation being saved through Moses. Most likely our hardships will not save a nation, but we are told God works for the good in all circumstances for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). In the midst of your pain, thank God for being a comforter and our rock (Psalm 18:2 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4) 
5. Serve others. It’s easier to be grateful when we get outside of our own heads. Maybe you bring joy or a meal to someone and it helps you realize even in life’s storms we have a lot of blessings.

 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” – Colossians 3:17

God, who gives generously, is asking for ALL, not a measly 10%. As failed humans we likely will never fully achieve our goal of 100%, but continually striving for more grateful hearts will transform our lives and our relationships with others — all while glorifying our wonderful Savior. 

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Kristin Arbuckle

Kristin Arbuckle is a writer, designer, photographer, and homeschooling mama. She and her husband, Andrew, studied at Bear Valley Bible Institute, served as missionaries in Hawaii, and worked with a church plant in Omaha before moving back to Michigan to be closer to family. Kristin enjoys art, traveling, and spending time in God’s beautiful world. She recently published her first book, Where Hope Grows Free.

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