You’ve probably heard the idea that there are two different kinds of people in the world, “Those who see the glass half-full and those who see the glass half-empty.”

I wanted to find a picture that showed this somehow, and I couldn’t believe it when I found this one!  I guess because Nick was such a glass half-full kind-of kid and thumbs up were a very powerful part of his life story. 

Anyway, if there are just two kinds of people, I’m going to have to speak the truth and say that I tend to be more of a glass half-empty kind-of person by nature.  Not that I am always negative or critical, but it is often more WORK for me to see the bright side of a situation than the dark side.

As I sat here reflecting for a minute on the road the Lord has taken me on in the past two months and how he has placed me in a school where I am with a teacher every day who is not only a glass half-full kind-of person but also a glass OVERFLOWING lady, I realized that even in this small detail of my life God has been working to prepare me for writing this blog post.  I’ve never seen this teacher NOT oozing with happiness and contentment.  Just a few years from retirement, she still teaches and loves her students like it was her first year out of college.  God knew I needed this lady in my life at this point in time, and I am so thankful!!

So as I think about the chapter I read this week, I am convicted and inspired by the truths Nancy brings out in Choosing Gratitude, Chapter Five.

She shares six differences between people who are full of gratitude and people who are full of ingratitude.

1.  A grateful person is a humble person, while ingratitude reveals a proud heart.

2.  A grateful heart is God-centered and others-conscious, while an ungrateful heart is self-centered and self-conscious.

3.  A grateful heart is a full heart, while an ungrateful heart is an empty one.

4.  People with grateful hearts are easily contented, while ungrateful people are subject to bitterness and discontent.

5.  A grateful heart will be revealed and expressed by thankful words, while an unthankful heart will manifest itself in murmuring and complaining.

6. Thankful people are refreshing,life-giving springs, while unthankful people pull others down with them into the stagnant pools of their selfish, demanding, unhappy ways.

My new teacher friend truly is a grateful person!!!  She refreshes me and makes me smile every time I am near here.

So I walk away from this chapter on whining or worshiping with this thought:

God longs to have hearts that are full of worship and gratitude.  Just as it breaks our hearts when our kids complain and whine when we are trying so hard to make their lives as full and happy as we can, I believe God’s heart breaks when we complain and grumble.

I want to make God smile. I want to refresh those around me.

I am thankful for a God who is patient and forgiving when my heart does not match my heart-Creator.

Striving to see the glass half-full and say “thank  you,”