I never knew my grandpas, but I was loved and nurtured by two sweet grandmas. Both of my grandpas had passed long before I was born.
One thing always stood out to me: each grandma experienced great adversity after her husband passed. Yet, through it all, each developed what I call a “Gratitude Attitude.” It carried them far in life.
I loved being around them. Over the years, they had learned to laugh more, give more, and appreciate the simple things. It's easy to have a good attitude when everything is going well. But true character is revealed when we choose gratitude in the midst of adversity.
We can rest in Who God is and remain thankful because we are made in His image. Through every adversity, He is changing us from one degree of glory to another.
Second Corinthians 3:18 says it beautifully: “But we all, with uncovered face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Over the years, I watched my son Cody live this truth.
The “Gratitude Attitude” must have trickled down. Because of his severe health challenges, if anyone had reason to complain, it would have been Cody. But he didn't.
Each day, he looked for reasons to be grateful—reasons to praise God. And as a result, he continually recognized blessings upon blessings.
Watching Cody reminded me that gratitude isn't simply about being thankful for what we have. It's about how we choose to live. Gratitude gives us the courage to keep moving forward, to give more of ourselves, and to trust God with whatever comes next.
That brings me to today's song. Some of the greatest lessons about life aren't learned in classrooms. They're passed down through the people who love us, through the challenges that shape us, and through the choices we make when life doesn't go as planned.
Sage advice about life comes from John C. Maxwell's books on leadership. Alyssa Flaherty captured some of that wisdom in her song, “How Far You'll Go.” The song tells the story of her grandpa's Saturday visits and his answer to her question about how far she could go.
His answer is really a challenge to all of us: Don't hold back. Risk more. Give more. Live more. Be willing to step through the doors God places before you. Because we may never discover how far we can go until we're willing to take that next step.
Jesus Himself said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).
So let's choose gratitude, even when life is hard. Let's smile through the challenges, give more, love more, and keep our eyes open for the blessings God places along the way.
Let's carry a “Gratitude Attitude” as we allow God to mold us more and more into the image of Christ—and discover just how far He can take us.
