Attitude of Gratitude

I was thinking about a leader of an organization I used to work at early on in my career named Bob (no, really, that was his name).

Bob was all about attitude.

"Attitude determines altitude," he would love to say.

He had a collection of pins that said the word attitude and would give them out sparingly to people who went above and beyond in their service at the company.

I was honored to receive one of those pins and still have it with me today - 25 years later.

Bob was a calm, cool, and collected kind of leader, which helped us all stay focused on what was most important, especially during difficult times.

Even when he neared the end of his life after battling cancer, Bob's optimistic attitude remained.

His attitude was such a big part of his legacy that his wife secured his attitude pin to his lapel when he was laid to rest.

I will never forget Bob and the lesson of keeping a positive attitude and hard work ethic despite your problems and difficulties.

When faced with difficult situations, we can feel the pull-down to look at things from the lowest perspective possible and fill our minds with dread and worse-case scenarios.

We shuffle about, our heads hung low as we feed on the bottom energy of murmuring, complaining, and woe-is-me-ing.

It's easy to get stuck in low-altitude thinking.

But we can make a different choice.

We can choose to improve our attitude and ask God to show us how He sees things from his vantage point.

God's perspective can pull us up to a higher altitude that can improve our attitude.

And while we're up at the higher altitude, we might as well be filled with gratitude for this new and improved attitude.

Gratitude rhymes with attitude, ya know. Coincidence? I think not.

It makes more sense from up here, doesn't it?

We can see the bigger picture and how the pieces all work together.

We can see the helpers and our role in making things better and be filled with hope and faith that everything will be okay.

We feel better already.

Up here, we can have a positive attitude filled with gratitude.

Let's remember the opportunity to reach up to God, who can ascend our attitudinal altitudes.

Reach up.

Look up.

Higher.

A bit higher.

Just a little more.

Whoa. Would ya look at that view?

Thank You, God, for this beautiful life you have given us.

Ephesian 4: 22-24

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Isaiah 40: 29-31

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

Romans 12: 11-13

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Share with the Lord's people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.