Greater Gratitude

In this season of Advent, we are full of joyful expectation as we await the coming of Christ. I imagine that the people who met the infant Jesus were filled with greater gratitude because of how much they waited for his arrival.

On a more mundane level, I think this example gives us a reason for articulating our hopes. When I’ve defined my vision, whether it was for something as worldly as a particular salary, or for something as profound as getting married, or for something as fun as raising pigs, I’ve found that my gratitude has been greater because the time between defining the vision and waiting for it allowed my desire to mature. It has been delightful and surprising to get what I’ve wanted—like getting a Christmas present. I think if I had not permitted myself to hope for these things, my gratitude would have been less. 

Although there’s the risk of not getting what you wanted, being hopeful is worth it. I truly believe that hopeful people are more likely to get the things that they want than those who despair. But even without this, being hopeful is a more beautiful way of being and I think this in itself makes it worth practicing. 

This week, I invite you to ask yourself: 

What do I hope for? In what areas do I permit myself to hope? In what areas have I despaired? Might it be that being hopeful is worth the risk, even if I don’t get what I hope for? 

God bless,
Dan