Why is it so hard to be thankful? I often find it so easy to ask God for things but so difficult to thank him. From the lack of thanksgivings we hear during the Prayers of the People, I would venture that you might recently also struggle.
Recently Fr. Joshua suggested I try to thank God more in order to hear him more clearly. I have found this to be true. Interesting there are also side-effects to being thankful.
In one interesting study, psychologists Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami (who have done much of the research on gratitude) asked participants to write a few sentences each week. One group was asked to write about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them. The third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on being positive or negative). After 10 weeks, those who wrote about being grateful were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they had also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation. (Michael Craig Miller, MD, “In Praise of Gratitude” 2012)
In the spirit of gratitude, I share this prayer with you asking God to help and grant grace to be more thankful and grateful to God and one another.
FOR GRATITUDE
Bless the Lord, O my Soul.
And forget not all his benefits.
OPEN OUR EYES, Lord, that we may see all that you give so abundantly, and teach us to be grateful; for the things we hold closest to our heart, for the things that all share in common, for the smallest of pleasure, and for the great hope of heaven. In all that you have given us, let us see your hand, and let our delight in your gift become an unending prayer of thanksgiving and an ever-growing habit of generosity toward others. For the sake of him who loves us and gave himself for us, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (St. Augustine Prayer Book, 74)