#PracticingGratitude

As people ponder the “cancel culture,” I’ve been thinking about a different one, we’ll call it the “complain culture.” It’s everywhere—all over our airwaves, in our break rooms at work, at our kitchen tables, on freeways, in lines at grocery stores, and in our hearts. Its ubiquity should make us sit still and ask ourselves some serious questions. Are our lives really as bad as we seem to think? Would having the things we think we’re missing make a difference? Would we be content if we had them or would we find something else to complain about?

As I pondered these questions this past week, I could not help but ask God to forgive me for my murmuring. I recognized the ingratitude at its heart—that inability to see and appreciate God’s goodness because we take it for granted. We may not like our jobs, but the ability to work and make a living is a gift that countless millions around the globe desire but don’t have. Even if we don’t always get along with our spouse, having a companion is a gift; even if we have to park at the far end of the parking lot, it’s okay because we have the ability to walk, and that too is a gift; and even if our lives are not perfect, the opportunity to live remains an extraordinary gift.

If we learn to focus on the positive aspects of our experiences and make gratitude a daily part of our lives, giving thanks in all things (1 Thess. 5:18), we could begin a new culture that is sure to make us all much happier. Let’s call it the “#GratitudeCulture.”