A few days ago, I saw a meme in LinkedIn with some comments by the actor Jakie Chan about gratitude. That quote is shown at right in this post.

It is so easy to be frustrated about what we don’t have. It is also so easy to be jealous of someone who has something that we would like to have. Neither of these responses are healthy, since they only lead to frustration.

One of the hardest lessons that we need to learn is how to respond to the parts of our life that are beyond our control. In some things we have limited control, in others we have zero control.

I am finding that two things help with dealing with this “out of our control” issues.

The first is gratitude, as Jackie Chan points out. The second is forgiveness.

Forgiveness allows me to let go of the hurts that I have incurred and find a way to move forward. I am learning to let those hurts go which prevents them from controlling my thoughts and give me the freedom to think about other things.

I am also finding that gratitude is a path to contentment. When I am most grateful, then I usually find myself relatively content. On this idea I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippians:

“. . . for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11–13, NASB 95)

Paul reminds us that true contentment is a work of God in my life. Having gratitude is foundational to allowing God to do this work in us.

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