The Attitude of Gratitude

The research is in . . . want to be healthier, happier, more popular, more successful? If that sounds good to you then you’ll want to keep the attitude of gratitude central in your heart and mind. There is even one study that indicates that grateful people sleep better at night.

Gratitude is a matter of focus: am I thankful, content and full of appreciation for where I am and what I have in this present moment, or am I bitter, discouraged and dissatisfied (and feeling sorry for myself) because I choose to focus on what I want and don’t have? It’s not a matter of circumstances. We can all find something to be thankful each day no matter how difficult our circumstances might be.

An article from Psychology Today this year lists seven scientifically proven benefits of gratitude:

●Gratitude opens the door to more relationships
●Gratitude improves physical health
●Gratitude improves psychological health
●Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression
●Grateful people sleep better●Gratitude improves self-esteem
●Gratitude increases mental strength

The research has discovered what God has known from the beginning. Because he made us, he knows a grateful heart is best for us.

Phil 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Take time today to count your blessings and express your gratitude to God and the people who bless you each week.

Grace and Peace,
Fred

A Charlie Brown Christmas

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” marked its 50th anniversary this week as the show was aired on ABC this past Monday night. This reminded me of sharing the story at our 2011 Christmas Eve service and I think it bears repeating.

Back in 1965 the idea was pitched by CBS . . . had Mr. Schultz ever considered doing a Christmas show with the Peanuts characters?  And so Charles Schultz went to work on “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” And the network “suits” quickly began to have doubts about his concepts.

There was to be no laugh track. How would people know when to laugh? There was a battle over the voice overs. Schultz insisted on using children; CBS wanted adult voices. There was a problem with the jazz soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi. It was too mature for a kid’s program. And finally, and looming largest of all, there was no way that Linus reciting the King James Bible from Luke 2 would work; audiences would be turned off by that for sure.

To his credit Mr. Schultz stuck to his guns and his concept and CBS reluctantly agreed to air the show even though they were certain it would be a flop. One executive suggested that at least it would be good for a tax write off.

The show aired on December 9, 1965; preempting The Munsters and followed by Gilligan’s Island. Linus’ recitation from Luke lasted all of 51 seconds and Charlie Brown realized that he did have to let commercialism ruin his Christmas.

The show was an immediate hit; it won an Emmy and a Peabody award and has aired every year since during the Christmas season. 

The only other show that has even come close in popularity is about a certain Grinch who tries to steal Christmas. And even he wrestled with the true meaning of Christmas:

"And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?It came without ribbons! It came without tags!"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"-- Dr. Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas

So how should we respond to story of Jesus birth this season? We can find all our cues from the characters in the Biblical narrative:
Wisemen call us to WONDER; Angels call us to JOY; Mary calls us to MARVEL and MEDITATE; Shepherds call us to SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.

So don’t let the secularization and commercialization of Christmas take a toll on your this season. Just like Charlie Brown, let’s all be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas– the birth of Jesus Christ.

Grace and Peace,
Fred