A Message from Dr. Chiquita T. Tuttle,
Coordinator, African American Pastoral Center
Gratitude and Gratefulness
"In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Scripture tells us that gratitude should always be our way of showing our appreciation for our blessings. During the Month of November, we share our gratitude by giving generosity for those organizations that provide services and resources to those in need.
We share our gratitude for the lives that were shared with us by honoring them on All Souls Day. We also come together as a family to share in a meal that has been prepared with love, and passion.
An excerpt from Harvard Health Publishing states the following on gratitude:
“The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people to connect to something larger than themselves as individuals – whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”
Additionally, the article goes on to say, “Gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have, instead of always reaching for something new in the hope it will make them happier, or thinking they can’t feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met.“
You can read the whole Harvard Health Publishing article HERE
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