Kiitollisuus
Gratitude – Tuulen suunta
Canada just celebrated its national Thanksgiving Day, and it’s coming up soon in the United States. Sometimes it can be difficult to be grateful 365 days a year, but the more days you remember to be grateful in the midst of everything, at least it shouldn’t harm you. On the contrary.
According to psychologists, gratitude changes our brain chemistry in many ways for the better. Gratitude increases positive emotions and helps us better retain good experiences in our memory. Gratitude has a health-promoting effect, and it helps us to deal with adversity. Gratitude also strengthens our relationships.
The Bible is literally full of passages that encourage us to thank God for all the good things he has bestowed upon us. This was long before the first thanksgivings were celebrated on the shores of North America. Examples of things to be grateful for include daily bread, home, family, and the people God has given us in our lives.
It is essential to remember that the blessings we experience ultimately come from God. That is why thanks and glory belong to him. God clearly wants his creations to be better off when they remember to be grateful.
How often should we be grateful? What if there are so many difficulties in life that it is difficult to squeeze out gratitude? Of course, there must be room for complaining. The Bible also contains psalms of lamentation, and an entire book called Lamentations.
Some researchers have talked about a 5:1 positivity/negativity ratio. That is, if there is one subject of complaint or negativity, five positive words or actions help a person feel better. Others believe that even three positive and grateful things in relation to one negative one can make a person flourish. As the saying goes, “count your blessings.”
“Give thanks to the Lord! He is good; his mercy endures forever!” (Ps. 118:29)
Blessed Autumn,
Pastor Timo
Click below to download the pdf of the November 2025 Newsletter:
November 2025 Newsletter – Ystäväkirje 2025 New Edit Website