An attitude of gratitude

By Rev. Andy Fleming, Chaplain

Last week’s Winter Anglicare Appeal left me in awe of the generosity of our community. I heard that donations were in excess of $10,000. There was genuine gratitude expressed by the Anglicare staff as they picked up the donations.

Typically, when we think of being grateful, we understand it is being thankful for something we received personally that is of benefit to us. However, the Anglicare staff’s gratitude was more in line with the Biblical concept of gratitude that pays that favour outwards, or by giving grace and kindness as a response to receiving a personal gift or benefit. In the Ancient Greek, gratitude refers to the quality of showing appreciation and returning kindness.

Expressing our thanks doesn't necessarily mean we’re actually grateful. Perhaps we are simply being polite. Although an authentic attitude of thankfulness recognises the efforts made by others.

In contrast, Biblical gratitude is an attitude to intentionally respond in action with something that strengthens and sustains us. Gratitude has a greater depth than thankfulness. It is tenacious, tireless and provides hope. It is a positive response to experiencing the presence of God's goodness and grace in our lives. This means that even when we are experiencing challenges and life isn’t going to plan, we can place our trust in God’s goodness . From this perspective, we shouldn’t think of having gratitude for our circumstances, but rather having gratitude in spite of our circumstances. That is the basis for our attitude of gratitude, not in ourselves or our circumstances, but rather in the love that God has for us.

An extract from a poem by K.J. Ramsey, from The Book of Common Courage:

We can so easily become
that which has harmed us.

We pour thick concrete
around the softness of our souls
to protect ourselves
from more pain.

Poetry can penetrate
our layers of self-protection.
Beauty can call us
into resurrection.
Like words on the edge
of a cliff into death,
Goodness and Love can pull
us back from the ledge.

Goodness and Love
always do seek
us in the layers,
lodged under hard sheets
of concrete, too thick
to breath, too precious
to leave. They chase us
all our days and crack
open our shields,
calling us back
home to the beauty
of being healed.

Go in Peace,

Rev. Andy