In The September/October Issue of  Does God Exist John Clayton writes on The Christian Concept of Gratitude. “Americans have moved from an attitude of gratitude to an attitude of entitlement. There is no reason to give thanks for something if it was owed to us in the first place, and we seem to jump from one ‘gimmie fest’ to another as we go through the various holidays. The result of this is STRESS, WORRY, ANXIETY, and all of the physiological disorders that go with this self-induced pressure. The hallmark of ownership is WORRY. The hallmark of an ‘Attitude of gratitude” on stewardship is THANKSGIVING.

Dr. Stephen Post is a physician at Case Western Medical School. In Guideposts Magazine (November 2007, page 78) Dr. Post shared some data on how people who are thankful for the things they have are benefitted by the ‘Attitude of gratitude”. Here are some of his findings:

• Just 15 minutes a day focusing on things you’re thankful for will significantly increase your body’s natural antibodies.
• Naturally grateful people are more focused mentally and measurably less vulnerable to clinical depression.
• A grateful state of mind induces a physiological state called resonance that’s associated with healthier blood pressure and heart rate.
• Caring for others is draining. But grateful caregivers are healthier and more capable than less grateful ones.
• Recipients of donated organs who have the most grateful attitudes heal faster.

Have you counted your blessings TODAY?

Larry Grampp

Elder