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Gratitude Revised Responding to God, not circumstances. There is a proliferation of books on the topic of gratitude. Clearly, authors and publishers believe increased gratitude will lead to a happier life. One book claims to celebrate gratitude through "friendship, love, peace, reconciliation, the body, nature, joy, and appreciation of the moment." 1 Life is richer when viewed through the lens of a grateful heart. Please and thank you are magical words; our culture would be transformed by using them more frequently. That said, I believe we have a problem of perspective. Lives around me are filled with struggle, suffering, loneliness, loss, and disappointment. The glass isn't just half empty; it's nearly drained. Our hopes and ambitions don't correlate with our real-life experiences. We dreamed of more—more happiness, deeper relationships, greater ease in living faithfully. Gratitude is hard. The psalmist helps us with this problem of perspective: "I lift up my eyes unto the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth" (Ps. 121:1–2). True gratitude is not fundamentally a response to our circumstances. It is first and foremost a response to God and what He has done in Christ. Adele Calhoun writes, "Gratitude is a loving and thankful response toward God for His presence with us and within this world. Though 'blessings' can move us into gratitude, it is not at the root of a thankful heart. Delight in God and His good will is the heartbeat of thankfulness." 2 Again, the psalmist guides us: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (Ps. 103:1–5, NRSV, emphasis mine). Do not forget! "We are to be 'rememberers,'" writes Chris Tiegreen. "God urges us to rehearse His past mercies intentionally and actively. Whenever we begin to focus on what we are lacking, we're to redirect our focus to what we've been given. The change in attitude that will result is remarkable. Joy begins to resurface and faith gets stronger." 3 Reflect for a moment on the images accompanying this article. What is it that we have been given? For what are we to be grateful? In Christ, we've been rescued, redeemed, reconciled, and we're constantly and forever companioned by the triune God. In our moment-to-moment lives, we are enabled and sustained by resurrection power and redeeming love. Thanks be to God! Help us, Lord, to remember. Help us to live gratefully. Nancy Buschart, MA MENTORING DIRECTOR Nancy is a mentoring director and associate faculty member at Denver Seminary. She is also the founder of Vine, Vision & Voice, LLC, a unique ministry of Christian formation, employing Scripture, community, and creativity. 1 M. J. Ryan, ed., A Grateful Heart (New York: Fine Communications, 1997). 2 Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2005). 3 Chris Tiegreen, The One Year Walk with God Devotional (Tyndale House Publishers, 2004). 20 SPRING 2015 CULTURE Christ has Come Christ has Died Christ is Risen Christ is Coming Again Christ has Lived