September 21: Gratitude Day

 

September 21:  Gratitude Day

This celebration started in 1965 in Hawaii when an international gathering decided that it would be a good idea to have one day per year to formally express gratitude and appreciation for the many wonderful things to be found in the world. Following the meeting in Hawaii, many attendees brought the 21^st of September back to their home countries as “Gratitude Day.” Ever since then, the number of people celebrating Gratitude Day across the world has continued to grow. 

Here is the question for us—Is gratitude a feeling or an action?  The answer is “yes!”  We should be wary of our feeling infused culture.  We are encouraged to “follow our hearts,” to “trust your heart” and to do what we “feel” like doing.  What utter nonsense.  Too often, the pendulum has swung too far for Christ-followers.  “Feelings are irrelevant,” “love is not a feeling,” “it’s only about behavior.”  Equal nonsense.  God’s Word is filled  with encouragement and admonitions to “feel” things, AND to act upon those feelings.  Being grateful is no exception. 

Being thankful should be a daily routine.  Ephesians 5:20 urges us to “give(ing) thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  But look carefully at Colossians 3:15-16:  “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Did you see the connection?  Gratitude IS a condition of the heart.  It is something we feel.  And we are commanded to feel it!  Here is the dilemma—we cannot command emotions.  We cannot make ourselves feel afraid any more than we can make ourselves feel grateful.  But we can behave in ways that reflect gratitude!  How?  By putting God’s word in our hearts and then sharing that with others—by teaching and admonishing each other and singing together.  These are actions that cultivate and promote gratitude. 

“But I often do those things and don’t “feel” grateful.”  First go to God and confess that.  It is a sin not to be grateful.  Repent.  Then ask God to fill your heart with gratitude.  Then, act grateful.  What you will find is that very often, the feelings follow the action.  Regardless, continue to behave like a grateful person, and long for and pray for feelings of peace and joy to well up inside of your heart.  

There are few things more needed today than Christians who look and act grateful.  What a wonderful way to recommend Christ to others.  Today, purpose to be grateful, however that may express itself.  Who knows?  You may reach a point where you are grateful every day, and not just on September 21.