An Attitude of Gratitude: How to Live a Thankful Life

Let’s face it: our lives are busy.  Between working, taking the kids to school, cleaning the house, cooking dinners and walking the dog, it may seem like we hardly have enough time to breathe.  As such, it can become easy to take our blessings for granted; when traffic is bad and the little ones leave a mess in their wakes, the daily routine seems like more of a hassle than a blessing.

However, though they may annoy us at times, all of these blessings are what make our lives beautiful and fulfilling.  To put things in perspective, imagine a life devoid of all of those wonderful things: no joyous laughter from the children, no house to clean or food to cook, no warm puppy for  companionship, and no job to help provide for the family.  Pushing God’s blessings away and labeling them as inconveniences would certainly leave us with empty lives!  But how can we demonstrate our gratitude for what we have?

One of the most important ways we give thanks and praise to God for filling our lives with joy is by using our blessings responsibly, even our financial blessings.  God has given us the ability to live our lives comfortably and fully, and we have the responsibility to share that great wealth with our loved ones and our communities.  But often we mismanage our budget and spending, and bypass the opportunities to share with others. By spending wisely and embracing duties as God’s stewards, we are able to provide for our families, donate to those in need and find a sense of peace and contentment the world cannot provide.

The book of Psalms says, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his mercy endures forever!” (Psalms 107:1)  Through wise financial planning and responsible spending, we give thanks to God and ensure that his blessings will remain with us through all of our days.  Take a moment today to really appreciate what you have, and to grow closer to God in the process.  For more information on Catholic money management perspectives, browse through the various resources we have provided on our website.