On the eve of our national day of Thanksgiving, and after recent posts on the power of gratitude and it’s contagious nature, it occurs to me that it may be helpful to step back and ask what gratitude is in the first place. I suppose at its most basic level it’s simply an awareness of blessing and a willingness or even eagerness to offer thanks for that blessing. But what precipitates that awareness? And if it’s primarily an awareness or perception of blessing and good fortune, it strikes me that gratitude is likely available to us anytime and in all manner of circumstances. Which brings to mind a statement by the Apostle Paul, writing...
Luke 20:20-26
posted by DJL
So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one,...
Contagious Gratitude
posted by DJL
Gratitude, it turns out, not only creates more happiness but it’s contagious. After Soul Pancake released their video on Gratitude – part of their larger series on “The Science of Happiness” – they invited their audience to shoot and upload videos of them sharing their gratitude with...
Luke 20:9-19
posted by DJL
He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat...
Do You Know MOPS?
posted by DJL
Just about a year ago I wrote a post that suggested that in many ways, it’s harder than ever to be a mom. This isn’t to underestimate the effort most dads make to share more of the work at home; it’s simply to recognize that today’s moms not only balance responsibilities at home but...