The Gift of Gratitude
Story 58

Every year, families and friends celebrate Thanksgiving across the country as a time to be collectively grateful. They gather in-person or virtually to reflect, serve and give thanks in many different ways. But why do we do this? Is it a tradition? Is it a practice? Is it a state of mind?

Maybe, most importantly, gratitude is a gift.

Extensive research supports the idea that gratitude benefits individual well-being. In one study, researchers asked participants to write a few sentences each week that focused on particular topics. Some focused on things they were grateful for, others on things that irritated them, and still others with no particular emphasis on positive or negative.

After 10 weeks, those who had written about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. They also exercised more and documented fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on negative things in their journaling. This is only one study of many that have found an association between thankfulness and well-being.

“When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree."

In the Bible, the Book of Psalms is the book of gratitude – the best-known passage likely being Psalm 100. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name,” reads one excerpt. The author David is talking about extending gratitude to his God. “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever," he continues, “his faithfulness continues through all generations.” David’s joy is eminent.

Whether in prayer, in conversation, or in a journal – clearly, gratitude is something worth trying. Maybe it’s for simple things. As a Vietnamese proverb says, “When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree.” Or it could be for something as profound as another day of life.

Shelly Trumbo, Well-Being Executive at Adventist Health, has suffered tremendous loss in her life, and she is always ready to share how gratitude has helped her heal and continue growing. “The Apostle Paul says, ‘I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,’” Trumbo says. “There are things that happen in life that are not good, and it's shallow and over-simplistic to say, ‘Oh, I'm glad that happened. That worked out for the best.’ Nevertheless, I do believe that in every one of those situations is a pathway to blessing and purpose. Those are some of the experiences that led me, I think, and prepared me to find a home in healthcare and really be so proud of the work that I get to do now.”

Chris Hagen, Director of Mission and Spiritual Care at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial and Adventist Health Dameron, recently set out to create an atmosphere of gratitude at the two hospitals where he serves through a campaign called, “What Fills Your Cup?”

“We started thinking about ways to create an atmosphere that would, from many different directions, help shift our employees’ thoughts towards hope,” he says. “Our teams are giving and giving,” Hagen says, “and I think it's important that we let them know it's necessary to give to yourself, as well, and appreciate the things in life that lend themselves to your mental health.”

One of the best ways to replenish a feeling of hope, Hagen shares, is by focusing on what you are grateful for. “When we fill our cups,” he says, “through gratitude, appreciation and self-care, our service can come from the overflow of love that spills out to those around us."