Gratitude

It is with a grateful heart that I write about gratitude, and what better time than during the week of Thanksgivings!  

     The writer of Daily Hope stated, “People who are grateful are happy.” There is a lot to that statement. Another writer from the Baptist Trumpet stated that gratitude redirects the gaze, softens the soul, and fuels perseverance. 

     When I think about gratitude, I think about God and His greatness. I think about the Great, I Am. I think about the Good Shepherd. 

     My gratitude today is all about a lot of “G”s. I am grateful for:

 

God-            His awesomeness and love

Grace-         God’s forgiving heart

Gifts–          How God has issued me so many 

Giving-         How God gives love and protection on a daily basis 

Getting-      How I get so many of God’s blessings though undeserved

Growth-       How God makes me strong through His Word

Goodness-    How God watches over me in His goodness. 

Greatness-   How great God is!

Good Shepherd-  He died for me and I am grateful

Great, I Am- There is only One God in which to give thanks

Gee! How awesome it is that God loves me so!

 

Sympathy, Empathy, or Compassion

      Sympathy, Empathy, Compassion! Which do we do best? 

By definition:  
Sympathy is a feeling of pity and sorrow for someone's misfortune.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Compassion is to literally suffer together, or even to become motivated to relieve the suffering of another. 

     I am sorry to say that compassion (to literally give my life so someone else can live) is not a trait built into my character.  I am so blessed and thankful that Jesus had compassion.  He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep.  Jesus had true compassion when He took up the Cross and let the nails be hammered into His hands and feet for me.