Grat-fel. Merriam-Webster defines grateful as “appreciative of benefits received”. Some more common synonyms are “appreciative”, “glad”, “thankful” and “obliged”.

I meet with a group of guys from church on Thursday mornings for breakfast at Bob Evans. It is a really good mix of guys. Some older than me a one, maybe two younger. I consider all of these fellas wise. I am “grateful”-there’s that word again-that they invited me into their group. We recently started studying a book on gratitude and gratefulness. It got me to thinking…

Is gratefulness only felt when you “receive” something? Can you FEEL gratefulness when you are the giver? The “doer” of a kind act? I believe the answer is yes! Acts 20, verse 35 tells us, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” MORE BLESSED. To me that means that BOTH the giver and the receiver are blessed. Simple example: I get so excited about watching someone open a gift I have purchased for them, especially if it is a surprise.

I recently had a conversation with Noah. I encouraged him to begin each day thinking of 2 or 3 things that he is grateful for. He asked me for examples. here is what I told him: how about the fact that you are alive, just one more day. Thankful for the rain we are having wot wash away the snow on covered sidewalks so that we can take walks safely again in our neighborhood; for warm winter coats, especially with how cold it has been recently and how cold it’s going to be again next week; and, finally, when someone flashes a smile you way. Ah that’s it! A smile. Simple, yet powerful. Amazing what a smile can do…for both the giver and the receiver.

So, my dear, sweet friends, be grateful. Be a giver. SMILE.😊

Be well,

Jeff