Whenever I pray, I begin with “thank you.”

It is a habit I’ve gotten into over the years.

Maybe it’s not quite “whenever,” sometimes my prayers are wordless, or just a simple “bless them,” or “Christ have mercy.” However, whenever my prayers are longer than a couple of words, I have intentionally chosen to always begin with gratitude.

“Holy One, thank you for every gift and blessing that you give, and I lift up to you today your beloved child in their final moments…”

It can be hard sometimes; this prayer practice I have taken on. At times, I do not feel particularly grateful when I pray my “thank you’s.”

However, I think it is still good to do, to form habits of gratitude. It doesn’t stop me from praying my laments, my heartbroken or even angry prayers to God. But I hope it is a habit that is shaping my heart and life in God’s ways.

I invite you to join me in offering thanks continually to God, living a life that is shaped by gratitude, both when it is easy and when it is hard.

Thanks be to God!

CG+