It’s that time of year when people start sharing what they’re thankful for. You’ve probably seen the posts — every day in November, someone lists one thing they’re thankful for. I think it’s great. I don’t exactly participate, but I love the concept.

The thing is, I don’t want gratitude to be something I only practice once a year. I want to learn to be thankful every day.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the word gratitude.
You might wonder: How is gratitude different from being thankful?

Here’s how I see it:

• Thankfulness is a feeling — an emotional response.
  It’s usually situational and reactive.
  When someone holds the door for you and you say, “Thank you,” that’s thankfulness.
• Gratitude is a posture — a chosen mindset and practice.
  It’s intentional. It’s deeper and more enduring.
  Gratitude can exist even when life is hard.

And I’ll be honest — I’m not naturally good at having a posture of gratitude when life gets hard. I complain. I whine. (Just ask my family and friends.) I question why things are happening, or why my prayers don’t seem to be getting answered. The struggle is real, you guys.

It is easy to feel grateful when life is smooth —
when the kids listen the first time,
when we get everyone ready and out the door for church without yelling,
when nothing feels heavy.

Gratitude gets harder when life does.

When you don’t know how you’re going to pay the bills.
When the kids are sick again.
When more is expected of you, and you feel like you have nothing left to give.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,

“Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Excuse me… all?
Even in the hardest moments of your life?
Even when nothing makes sense?

Yes. All circumstances.

I know because I’ve wrestled with this.
I still do. (Scroll back up — I literally just confessed to complaining and whining.)
Life isn’t always fair or easy. Sometimes it just… sucks.

BUT shifting our focus toward gratitude really does change our mindset.
Gratitude has actual benefits — improved mental health, reduced stress, even stronger immune systems.

So I’m trying to practice it.

Tons of dirty laundry?
→ At least we have clothes to wear.

Pile of dirty dishes?
→ That means we have food to eat.

Kids acting wild?
→ They feel safe enough with you to be themselves.

Irritating coworkers?
(If mine are reading this, this is just an example. 😄)
→ At least you have a job.

Maybe instead of listing what we’re thankful for one month out of the year,
we could begin to practice a posture of gratitude all year long.