#Action – I and Thou Reflections

Gratitude in the Disaster – Part 3

Gratitude is Action

Gratitude is more than a feeling or an emotion. It is an action. It is a way that we can speak our faith through our deeds. Through a faith-based lens, gratitude isn’t passive; it’s an active expression of love and kindness. James emphasizes this with the reminder that ‘faith without works is dead’ (James 2:26).

The faith-based approach seeks to put our faith into service. And we do it through kindness and compassion.

How do you show gratitude?

Gratitude Amid the Hurricanes of Life

There is no doubt that Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton left indelible marks on families. From the beaches in Florida to the mountains in North Carolina, the hurricanes left a trail of devastation of unprecedented proportions.

It was unexpected.
It was quick.
It was devastating.
Many experienced the loss of family members and friends. People lost their homes. Businesses. Livelihoods.

Gratitude For Humankind

Yet, amid such devastation and tragedy, so much kindness and compassion poured out from so many. Neighbors, relief organizations, and the anonymous donated time and resources to a myriad of groups to show gratitude.

Often, in moments of crisis, love and compassion shine bright. The worst of times seems to draw people together in unity. It helps us to realize how essential our basic needs are as opposed to all of the materialism that is around us.

Gratitude for humankind.

This type of gratitude causes me to pause and reflect. It reminds me of the thought that has been on my mind for a few days now…“Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus.” It is as if a voice whispers this to me as I wake up.

Christianity.com does a beautiful job of answering the question:
What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus?
Being the hands and feet of Jesus means that Christ’s followers, past, present, and future, are obedient in their commission to preach the gospel and co-labor with Christ to love, serve, and heal the broken, hurting, and hopeless of this world.
Joel Ryan, Contributing Writer -www.Christianity.com

As we walk through the hurricanes of life, let’s remember to show kindness and compassion.
Why?
Because actions speak louder than words.

How can we bring kindness to our own situations as well as to those walking through their own storms?

In Part 4, we will look at how the Snowbird Coffee Cafe became the hands and feet of Jesus.

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action #Hurricanes #HandsandFeetofJesus

The Attitude of Gratitude – Part 2

In the last post, we compared the ups and downs of life to a bowl of strawberries. Just as each strawberry represents different aspects of life, our attitude towards them can take on various forms. In other words, gratitude can be an emotion, a feeling, or an action.

Today, we will define gratitude from two different sources.

Gratitude is a positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative and is associated with several mental and physical health benefits. When you experience gratitude, you feel grateful for something or someone in your life and respond with feelings of kindness, warmth, and other forms of generosity.
What is Gratitude & How Can You Practice It? http://www.verywellmind.com

The first source suggests gratitude is a positive emotion. But is gratitude only an emotion?

What do you think?

GRATITUDE (εὐχαριστία, G2374, [1] thankfulness, gratitude; [2] the rendering of thanks, thanksgiving; [3] Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, 1 Cor 10:16). The condition or quality of being grateful; an emotion or sentiment of thankfulness. A warm sense of appreciation for a kindness received; accompanied by a feeling of good will toward the benefactor, and a desire to repay the favor.
Encyclopedia of The Bible – http://www.biblegateway.com

Gratitude – Is it an Emotion? Feeling? Or an Action?

In both definitions above, gratitude is related to a feeling or emotion.

How would you define it?

In the next post, we will explore gratitude through The Book of James. James would argue that gratitude is an action. What are your thoughts?

What if gratitude is something more? Something active, something that can change us and others?”

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action

Berry Grateful – Part 1

Life is like a bowl of Strawberries

Let’s picture luscious fresh strawberries in a beautiful crystal glass bowl.
What do you see?
I see about fifty strawberries with green stems. Some are perfect, and some have leaves that are wrinkled or missing.
I see strawberries that are large and some that are smaller.
Then, I bend down and take a whiff and smell that heavenly strawberry aroma that dances in the air and into my nose.

In every bowl…

Every once in a while, a small, almost rotten strawberry gets mixed up in the bunch.

Just like our lives

Some lives have more rotten strawberries than others.
But what if we were to be grateful for all the strawberries, no matter their condition?
You may ask, how can I be thankful for the rotten strawberry?
You have a choice to make.
You can eat it and maybe get sick.
You can throw it out.
Or you can toss it out the door for insects to have a feast.

What do you see when you see a bowl of strawberries?

What would life be like without a few of these rotten ones?

Could they actually serve a purpose?

And, how would you define the ups and downs in life?

In Part 2, we will define gratitude and dig a bit deeper.

*Image Credit: Karen Arnold, PublicDomainPictures.net*

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving