Gratitude and Patience
Practicing Patience With Ourselves
Reflection By Robbin Brent
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Scripture encourages us to be grateful in all things, not necessarily to be grateful for all things. As we mentioned last week, a regular practice of gratitude can help to create a safe space in which to notice both what keeps us in the flow of God’s love and desires for us, and what pushes us out of that flow. What nurtures our ability to be patient with ourselves, and what keeps us from extending kindness toward ourselves.
Some days it might be gratitude for a sense of wonder. Other days it might be gratitude for a prayer or a nudge that something in our lives is calling out for our attention.
A gratitude practice can offer us opportunities to discover what touches our hearts and the hearts of others, what inspires a lasting joy, and what allows us to listen more deeply for the ways our prayer joins with God’s prayer for us in every area of our lives.
Today we invite you to take a few moments to consider the idea that we can choose to find gratitude in all things, not necessarily for all things. Then, list a few things for which you are authentically grateful. You might end by offering a simple prayer of thanksgiving.
Making It Personal: If you made a list of things for which you are grateful, how did that make you feel? How might a regular practice of gratitude strengthen your ability to be more patient with yourself?
TO JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK DISCUSSION GROUP FOR ADVENT, CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW:
Follow along with us this Advent season with our daily devotional and engage in discussion in our closed facebook group moderated by Robbin Brent, Carolyn Karl, Jan Kwiatowski, and Scott Stoner.
In this group, participants will have a chance to share their responses to the prompts in the daily readings, and also the chance to receive additional material for reflection.