Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude

Being pregnant, I'm not to abstain and fast from certain things during Lent, so I was trying to find something I could give up that would cause me to struggle and to grow- and I've found it.

I'm trying to give up complaining about my job and my living situation for Lent. And- let me tell you, after one week- ONE WEEK of Lent, I've had to start over this resolution on a daily basis.

It's been an eye opening experience- one that has not only revealed to me my cynicism, but also faithlessness, and ingratitude for what God has provided me with- a place to stay with people who are (trying) to look out for my well being, and a job in which I have an opportunity to provide for my husband and son, all while doing the work of a missionary.

In any case- now that I have realized my weaknesses- I want to do something to work on having an "attitude of gratitude". Whether it's in my personal journal or in this blog, I need to record down all of the good things that have happened to me during the day, and keep a log of them. I have a feeling that with this new practice, i will begin to change my attitude. Sometimes, when we can concretely see how God's hand is working in our lives, it makes it that much easier to be faithful, and to place a childlike trust in Him and in His providence

This Bible passage is one that I will reflect on during Lent:

25“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?g 28And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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Matthew 6:26