Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Living out Gratitude



"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

John F. Kennedy
Will you make a list of what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving? Will you talk about it at your dinner table? It's sweet and refreshing and a good way to evaluate our lives, but can we take the warm fuzzy feeling a step further?

Can we learn to LIVE in our gratitude?

Living in gratitude means on a tense Monday morning with my family (those I thank God for every day) I zip my lip when I'd rather let someone have it. I thank God for my husband by showing him grace and not nagging him when other obligations push home projects to the bottom of his list. My gratitude for my dear mother is expressed by drawing from her excellent example when raising my own children. If I praise God for my church, the lonely woman I encounter there gets a listening ear. If I am grateful for my home, I open it up to others. I make time for the treasured relationships He's given me. If I am thankful for His word, I do what it tells me.

Passing on the love and grace we've received in our every day is the highest form of appreciation to a loving, giving God.

What are you thankful for? How you can live out your gratitude?

Please join the In "Other" Words gang and give us your thoughts about today's quote.





8 comments:

Debbie Petras said...

Tami, thank you for hosting IOWT. This is a great quote and challenging to live out.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and may you live out a life of gratitude.

Blessings,
Debbie

Karen said...

Thanks for the quote to take us into Thanksgiving. I love the examples you gave about living out gratitude on a daily basis. Have a good Thanksgiving.

Heather of Swallowing A Moose said...

You are a light in the darkness!

You Rock Girlfriend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vintage Whimsy Studio said...

Thanks for giving us such a reminder of our need to "make it real." I appreciate your words of wisdom ;o) Nina

Denise J. Hughes said...

Thanks for hosting IOW this week. The quote you chose gave me a lot to think about. How can I show, rather than merely tell, my appreciation? I appreciate your words of encouragement and wisdom...more than you know. Blessings to you this week.

Miriam Pauline said...

Challenging stuff my friend. Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Jaime Kubik said...

This was a WONDERFUL post! It is easy to forget how to live with gratitude on a daily basis, yet I see it in you all the time. I am lucky to call you sister-in-law! Your life is such an example to me! God is good. Happy Thanksgiving!

Kelly said...

Living out what I say I believe is the continual battle before me. Thanks so much for the great reminder!!! Gobble, gobble, gobble! :)