From the series: Who Put the Vinegar in the Salt?
Gratitude, according to the emerging branch of science referred to as positive psychology, is an emotion which acknowledges an anticipated or received benefit. Gratitude is experienced if the benefit is perceived as valuable, costly to their benefactor, and given without expectation of return. Gratitude is not a feeling of indebtedness. For when one feels obligated, there is a tendency to avoid the giver. Gratitude, however, motivates the recipient to seek out the benefactor and improves the relationship with the giver. According to this school of mental health, an attitude of gratitude is not dependent upon an individual’s circumstances. Gratitude transcends negative events within a person’s experience. 
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men”
(Matthew 5:13NIV).
That day the bank gave me two blue lollipops and one red. I had three children to placate. Even if the blue lollipops would have been satisfactory, the fact that I had only one red could ignite World War Three. Just because there was only one, they all wanted the red. I should have listened to my instincts and left the lollipops at the bank.
What ever happened to gratitude? What causes this tendency to focus more on what we don’t have than what we do?
Gratitude, according to the emerging branch of science referred to as positive psychology, is an emotion which acknowledges an anticipated or received benefit. Gratitude is experienced if the benefit is perceived as valuable, costly to their benefactor, and given without expectation of return. Gratitude is not a feeling of indebtedness. For when one feels obligated, there is a tendency to avoid the giver. Gratitude, however, motivates the recipient to seek out the benefactor and improves the relationship with the giver. According to this school of mental health, an attitude of gratitude is not dependent upon an individual’s circumstances. Gratitude transcends negative events within a person’s experience. Grateful people, it seems, are happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships. Gratitude will enhance coping skills when dealing with life transitions or unexpected road bumps. Rather than seek blame, the grateful person focuses on his or her many blessings.
Says an old song from yesteryear, “When you’re worried, and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings, instead of sheep…”
I ask myself, why does God command believers to acknowledge His goodness? Why should we offer up thank-you notes in our prayers? In the days of Moses, God instituted a practice of thank offerings in addition to the sin offerings given by the priests. Why did He do that? God is self-existent, and therefore needs nothing from us. While God inhabits the praises of His people, perhaps the value of gratitude is not for God’s benefit but for ours. The New Testament also admonishes the believer to offer thanks to God for our many blessings. “Through Christ then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God” (Hebrews 13:15).
Maybe, gratitude keeps the believer centered. Without God’s intervention, sin would enslave us. Yet, by God’s grace, we are free. Because He loved us, he provided a remedy for our sinful natures, the sacrifice of his only son, Jesus Christ. (John 3:16). This is the basis, then, for my gratitude. From there, the benefits God gives the believer are endless.
“…Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20 NIV).
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