Develop your gratitude attitude: being thankful doesn't cost a penny. But it does bring rich rewards.

WHILE MAKING HIS PASTORAL ROUNDS, A MINISTER VISITED WITH A DISABLED CHILD.

Although young, her short life was filled with much pain and trauma. At her birth a host of physical abnormalities were present, including a severe curvature of the spine. As a result, she was forced to spend hours each day and night in what was then called a Phelp's Box, a device that resembled a shallow coffin. Earlier in the century children with severe curvature of the spine were placed in a Phelp's Box and strapped as flatly as possible. The only part of the body that could be moved was the head. It was not only physically confining but extremely painful as well.

When the pastor visited the little girl, he commented how nice it was that her Phelp's Box was beside the window. She agreed that the view was delightful, saying: "In this position, I can only look up. On those nights when I can't sleep, I play with the stars." Intrigued with that phrase, he asked, "How can you play with the stars?"

Her reply revealed a depth of wisdom far beyond her young age and an insight that would be rare even in an adult: "I pick out the brightest star I can find, and I say, 'That's Mommy.' And I thank God. I find a twinkling one for my brother, my puppy, my wheelchair. And I thank God." The child continued on and on with her litany of praise, finally concluding with this simple but profound statement: "I found out there aren't enough stars to go around."

* Two Groups

When it comes to giving thanks, people divide themselves into two groups. There are those who count the stars, and those who don't. Author G. K. Chesterton noted: "When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."

The people of God are instructed not to take things for granted. Both the Old and New Testaments challenge us to practice the principle of gratitude. Psalm 92:1 declares simply: "It is good to give thanks to the Lord." * And in Ephesians 5:20 the apostle Paul commands: "Always give thanks for everything to God."

Consider these simple guidelines for developing your own gratitude attitude:

* Be thankful for common blessings commonly overlooked.

A good place to begin is thanking God for whatever measure of health you enjoy.

British minister and author W. E. Sangster tells of a depressed man who told him he had nothing to be thankful for. Spontaneously, Pastor Sangster invited the man to accompany him as he made his weekly visit to a home for the aging poor. "It was an old-fashioned building, and its management left much to be desired," Sangster recalled. "From bed to bed we went, seeing a great many of these pitiable old people. Some were dim of sight, and some were quite blind. Some were hard of hearing, and some were quite deaf. Some were quite imbecile, and in some their reason was partly impaired." The minister didn't say much to his companion that day but simply had him follow along. "When we were outside again, I did not rub the moral in. I just shook hands with him, and he parted from me saying, 'I don't think I'll ever grumble again.'"

* Remember that gratitude is a seasoning for all of life's seasons.

Life is a curious mixture of highs and lows, pleasures and pains. When you go through a season of life that is harsh and hard, express gratitude for other blessings that you continue to enjoy. Doing so will soften the edges of the problems you face and ease your anxiety. This principle of praise was utilized by the biblical prophet Daniel. When he learned that a law had been passed prohibiting the practice of his Jewish faith, Daniel retreated to his quarters for prayer. The account tersely states: "But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room.... He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to God" (Daniel 6:10).

While the content of his supplication is not noted, one can assume his prayer of thanks during this difficult dilemma included gratitude for God's guidance in times past; gratitude for the presence of God's Spirit in times of trouble; gratitude for spiritual strength and courage. Daniel knew it is praise to God that calms a troubled spirit and clears the mind to think more clearly and more hopefully.

A contemporary example of gratitude seasoning and softening the hard edges in life comes through Roy Davis of Clovis, California, who tells of a time from his childhood when the family relocated to a new town. Shortly after they settled in, his father was laid off from his job as a welder. Although the father diligently searched for work, employment was scarce, and soon their reserve funds were gone.

As things got desperate for the family of two adults and three children, a local farmer offered the struggling newcomers potatoes from his field. "We ate potatoes three times a day," Davis recalls. "Fried for breakfast, baked for lunch, and mashed for dinner." Several more weeks passed, and the elder Davis was still unemployed. Mealtimes became quiet, tense, and depressing.

After another breakfast of potatoes one morning, the father abruptly left the table and headed outside. There he rummaged under the car seats, found some coins, and pocketed them. "Tell your mother I'm going to town," he instructed his son Roy. "I'll be back before supper."

When he returned, the father whispered to his wife, and together they ushered the three children out of the kitchen, saying, mysteriously, "Tonight we're going to have a special meal to celebrate." Since the father still did not have a job, the children asked what they were celebrating. "Life," the father answered. "We're celebrating life." Smiling down at his little ones, he added, "Things may be tough for us right now, but I know that with God's help we will get through this. He has truly blessed us."

Then Mother brought out dinner. On each plate there were mounds of pink, green, blue, and orange balls. After devouring the first bite, Roy Davis realized that his meal consisted of non other than mashed potatoes, but with a distinctive difference. The coins his father had found had been used to buy some food coloring. Although the meal was still the same, "because of all the colors," Roy remembers, "it was fun to eat. My brother, sister, and I giggled as we enjoyed our 'rainbow mashed potatoes,' and the cloud that had been hanging over us at mealtimes lifted."

After a few more weeks the father found work, and the family happily quit their potato diet. "His purchase brightened our meal that night," Roy says, "and his philosophy continues to color my life. Now, when my family experiences tough times, I make rainbow mashed potatoes as a reminder of how fortunate we are."

* No matter what, always affirm life.

Live like the psalm writer who fervently declared: "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). Train your mind to count the blessings. Counting blessings builds faith, strengthens us emotionally, and produces contentment even in the most adverse of circumstances.

An inspiring example is that of 11-year-old Rosemary. Her mother, Mary Manachi of West Patterson, New Jersey, explains that all three of her children were born with a rare blood disorder called Cooley's anemia. At the time, there were no drugs, no treatments, no known medical help to prevent her children's death, usually before age 20. The condition meant regular trips to Cornell Medical Center in New York City for blood transfusions. There, they waited their turn along with nearly two dozen other children with a similar need.

During a Thanksgiving season Rosemary's teacher called Mary and told her that the class had been asked to write about what they were most thankful for. The teacher explained that most of the answers were predictable: home, parents, and food. Then the voice on the telephone line trembled slightly: "I thought you would like to hear Rosemary's answer. She wrote, 'I thank God for my good health.'"

Mary wondered how Rosemary could possibly be thankful for good health. Recalling the event years latter, she explained, "Then I remembered the other children Rosemary saw on her hospital visits, the ones with amputations or suffering from cancer. My Rosemary could walk, go to school, skip rope."

Rosemary died from the disease on her twelfth birthday. But to the very end, she always affirmed life. In her room she kept a Scripture plaque she made. It read: "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

That little girl with a life-threatening illness shows us the true meaning of gratitude. Gratitude means being thankful for what you have rather than yearning for what you don't have. Her gratitude attitude continues to touch the lives of those who hear her story today.

This holiday season, share the one gift so desperately needed by so many in this hurting world. At work, at school, at home, let everyone find comfort and hope as they bask in the warmth of a thankful heart.

* Bible texts are from the New Living Translation

Victor Parachin is an ordained minister, freelance journalist, and author. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.