“The hardest arithmetic is counting off your blessings”.

Sometimes, or most of the time, this is true as man nowadays spend much of his time to satisfy himself, such as eating, going to the office or work, spending long hours in front of the TV or computer, and sleeping. About 16 hours or more are spent daily for these mundane activities and grappling with life’s challenges and problems. Counting the blessings received in a day? No time at all! Instead before going to bed, the things people will more likely remember are the common problems they have in life. Unknowingly, minding these things can develop stress, depression and anxiety.

This build-up of stress causes worry to people even with the simplest things. Oftentimes, depressed people carry heavy grudges on themselves and have greater tendencies to “freak out”. Once they get anxious, they can never be satisfied. Eventually, they get sick. Unfortunately, most fatal ailments are those which stem from stress and depression. Western medicine and even alternative medicine cannot help if the problem is attitudinal in nature. How can this problem be intervened, with less effort, and at the least expense?

Gratefulness say something in overriding the predicaments of people. Some scientific researches state that a person having a grateful heart also shows a healthy heart. What does this mean? In an experiment, someone who expressed gratitude was reported to be showing higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism and energy, than those who did not. In addition, the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, and was more likely to help others, exercise more regularly and make more progress toward personal goals. People who feel grateful are also more likely to feel loved, it was also discovered.

In addition, two scientists, Dr. Michael McCollough, of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Robert Emmons, of the University of California at Davis underscored in their study on the relationship of gratitude to a person’s well-being that what gratefulness encourage is a positive cycle of reciprocal kindness among people since one act of gratitude encourages another.

Science is not alone in saying that gratefulness is good for one’s well-being however. It is Biblical. It was on February 9, 2008, a regular Thanksgiving gathering of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) when Bro. Eli Soriano showed the sharp-lined truth regarding a person’s nature to be thankful.

The key to bodily habit of being thankful is on the core of contentment. A person who learns to appreciate the smallest things he has in life saves up time instead of parking himself thinking how to have a better life.

Contentment can shoo away a person’s earthly desires, whereas such desires could plant greed, uncleanness, and evil acts. A satisfied person has the courage to face each day and feel indebted even for less. With or without much food, wealth and other possessions, they surpass the day with a cheerful heart.

Bro. Eli even asked the crowd to notice a person who is hard to please, a person who has no joy in things given to him or done to him which is not of great value, or monetary value. Such person ignores the beauty of gratitude. Compared to a person whose heart is filled with joy out of contentment, the same tends to repay debt of gratitude to someone he owes to and maintains a peaceful and God-held life. This is supported by Romans 14:17-18 that states –

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

There are people on earth who understood that such less they have along with the hardships have its corresponding reason for goodness sake, according to Bro. Eli. As what is indicated again in Romans 5:3-5 –

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

It is also written in Romans 8:28 that –

“… all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Bro. Eli showed that God does not base upon tangible things but examines the heart and never looks into each one’s face value, like what is written in Jeremiah 17:9-10 –

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Humility, contentment, simplicity, and faith could lead to a healthy and heavenly life on earth. They are easy to achieve, if only man knows how to be thankful for what he has. (Illustration provided by seenag of Artists' Guild)

Related links: http://www.acfnewsource.org/religion/gratitude_theory.html