Eric W. King ~ TSW, "The Shepherds Way": Thankfulness !!!

Thankfulness Therapy

by Tonya Taylor

The LORD Jesus said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."--John 10:10

Although I grew up being a judgmental whiner and complainer, filling loads of journals with the repetition of past disappointments--then grew worse for a couple decades, I hate to say--the LORD started teaching me to be thankful.

First, He helped me stop lugging those books of bitterness from one place to another, and just burn 'em!

Then, He led me to (1) start doing much more writing out of His holy, life-changing Word, and (2) start writing down things I am thankful for.

This is so simple, and so amazing! Of course, it's Biblical, because the LORD commands us to approach Him with thankfulness: 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.--Psalm 100:4-5, AMPC

A well-known international health expert recommends this: Write 10 minutes a day, listing things you are thankful for. (They don't have to all be from that day. Just writing 10 minutes of these positive experiences, which are gifts from God--displays of His goodness to you!--will help you be more aware and appreciative of His merciful lovingkindness, His faithfulness to you!)

My husband and I not only thank the LORD first thing every morning out loud, but we also keep journals to record His goodness. Then, we gather on a special occasion and read some of them to each other. Sometimes, we've forgotten part of His goodness, so this is a good reminder!

When I taught public school English to my fourth grade class in a small rural school, I had my students do this for Thanksgiving week. The assignment was for them to write 100 things for which they were thankful, and the writing was part of a craft project they could keep and take home. Some struggled and had to be helped with things to write, but most loved it, and a few wrote more. One young man said, "Can I write 200?" I was thrilled!

The parent of one student bragged to a school board member about this, and she thought it was an excellent idea.

i was able to plant seeds about God (which, of course, I did at every opportunity, while respecting state and school rules, so to speak) and how He gives us every good thing, for which we should be thankful.

I bet you could write many things for which you're thankful, as soon as you finish reading this article. Go for it! You'll never regret it, and it will be a great example for your children and others to model!

Tonja K. Taylor is a free worshiper, author, teacher, wife, mother, and certified health coach, who helps others on their journey to wholeness. She teaches classes on faith, worship, holistic health, writing, ESL, and more--in person and on her YouTube channel:"River Rain Creative Arts."