This is part of the series The Gifts Of The Holidays: Celebrating Thanksgiving And Christmas. Read more from the series!

Sometimes the state of America saddens me. It seems as if we’ve lost our way.

We love to celebrate, but one of the most important holidays seems to be largely overlooked. Stores move from Halloween to Christmas. Families use the day to gorge themselves and watch football.

And the whole idea behind Thanksgiving is ignored.

We’ve forgotten how to be grateful. Instead, we view life as if we deserved everything we have; all the gifts, blessings, and good things.

We feel entitled.

We shouldn’t.

We should live with an attitude of thankfulness.

Being thankful is a part of God’s will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:18). God has claimed us as his own, and provided for us, giving us reason to be grateful (Psalm 100:3-4). And a thankful attitude should be a part of our worship (Hebrews 12:28). And there are dozens of additional passages that teach us that we should be thankful.

But how do we do that?

Here are a few simple suggestions of how to develop an attitude of gratefulness in our lives.

• Say “thank you”.  It’s that easy. A simple “thank you” expressed can help root out our self-centeredness. This phrase should be such a common part of our everyday vocabulary. One of our sons is named Jadon. His name means “he is thankful”. His first words were appropriately “thank you”. We have tried to instill this simple habit into the lives of our children, but they must be an integral part of our own as well. Practice this often.
• Celebrate God’s blessing.  Rejoice in what God has given, whether it is given to you or to someone else. God has poured provisions upon us. Rejoice in what he has blessed us with.
• Be generous.  There is no better way to show gratefulness than by passing on God’s blessings. Generosity is opposite of the attitude that fosters entitlement.
• Read the Bible.  Especially the Psalms. There are scores of passages in God’s Word that instruct us on gratefulness, or describe why we should be thankful. Meditate on these.
• Keep a “Grateful Journal”.  I keep a small notebook handy at all times. It’s my mind journal. I record what I read, who I talk with, and what about. I want to make sue what goes into my mind is largely positive. But I want to to display outwardly as well, so I write down things in that journal each day that I’m grateful for in my life.
• Set “Thankful Alarms”.  I have recurring alarms set on my phone. Every three hours, my device chirps, reminding me to stop and give thanks to God for what he does in my life.
• Tell others.  Share with others what you’re thankful for. Go around the dinner table, each person citing an opportunity from the day to be grateful.

These are just a few practical examples to help us remember to be grateful. This month, as we celebrate Thanksgiving, strive for an attitude that will continue throughout the year, and not just on Turkey Day.

What do you do to foster gratefulness in your life? Share your ideas in the comments section below.

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