Writing From A Grateful Heart
What is a Grateful Heart?
And how do we write with a grateful heart? The best way to illustrate “Writing with a Grateful Heart” is to share a story of a girl with a broken heart and how she used her words.
Twenty-eight years ago a young girl with an underdeveloped heart fell in love with a boy. Her heart started to grow and as the years passed her heart became full. The two were richly blessed. Her husband said, “make it rain,” and an abundant amount of material blessings fell from the sky. At one time she had a very grateful heart.
As the blessings multiplied, her heart started to harden. The blessings were no longer appreciated but expected. The stress of the world started to fracture her heart. Slowly, her heart started to break.
“Words from the brokenhearted cause division,”
Karen Esbenshade
When others chose to express from their broken hearts, she would use her words to retaliate. Together the words from the brokenhearted cause division and add to the stress of the world. Further, compounding the fractures of her heart.
Her heart needed to be completely shattered and made whole to understand how to properly use her words. Because words from a grateful heart are best from a whole-hearted individual. A whole-heart unites.
Embracing Our Struggles
The girl represents my younger self. Over the years I had become complacent with my lifestyle. The blessings did not have the same impact on my life and no longer was I practicing gratitude.
“When we stop struggling, we stop growing.”
Karen Esbenshade
I did not recognize the struggles which affected my daily life. When we stop struggling, we stop growing. And it wasn’t that I didn’t have the struggles, but I chose to ignore them. Using alcohol to mask the discomfort brought on by my daily struggles.
Instead of ignoring my struggles I should have leaned in and embraced my struggles. To accept our struggles, allows us to have compassion for ourselves and others who are also struggling.
If I would have understood the importance of struggling I would have saved myself tremendous heartache. Instead of being part of the problem, I could have been a peacemaker. Now when others act out I am able to handle their outbursts with compassion. Praying for their broken hearts.
Characteristics of a Grateful Heart
Loss of Entitlement
My needs should not be put before another’s. I am no more deserving. And when life does not go as planned, I should learn to properly cope. Entitlement leads to greed and discontentment in life.
Selflessness
When life happens I should accept it doesn’t just happen to me. It is time to put my selfish ways aside and practice humility. To be truly humble is to place others first without even considering one’s self.
Awareness
In our fast pace world we lose focus of what is important. It is time to understand what prompts my behavior and more importantly understand the trials others face. And to build relationships with others who are suffering.
Compassion
As humans we all have struggles and when we understand other’s trials we can feel for them. We can be present in a time of need for others. When we breed compassion our heart expands..
Purpose
My life was lacking and I needed a reason for my existence. God has a will for each of us. He has given me an opportunity to use my words to be part of the solution, not the problem. Daily, I need to remember to practice gratitude and not for the material possessions, but for the gifts He bestowed upon me.
“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell you all the marvelous things you have done.”
Psalm 9:1 NLT
Giving thanks can make you happier…https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
As an imperfect human my growth has been spurred on by a life catastrophe, because I chose to ignore my struggles. Instead of choosing to look inward and identify the source of the problem, which was ME, I placed blame on the society around me. The end result was to numb my discomfort and quell my anxieties with that one glass of wine. By the grace of God I was able to seek forgiveness and unearth my flaws. Through sharing with others I was able to accept my flawed self and learn I did not need to suffer alone. The result peace, from a loving God, not the spirit in the bottle.
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