A week ago our family was able to go on vacation. A really nice vacation. Toward the end of our week, we started talking about all the other places we’d like to go. The talk made Catherine and I uncomfortable. It didn’t feel right to be fantasizing about other trips and adding to our bucket list when the trip we were on wasn’t even finished. There are probably sociological explanations for our ceaseless yearning, but regardless, it felt pretty crummy.

Shortly after our return home, Catherine came across an article that recommended creating a “Reverse Bucket List,” i.e. a tally of the places you’ve already been and things you’ve already done. In other words, practice gratitude, not want. In the face of what most of us have, want seems like ingratitude, doesn’t it?

The Roman philosopher and statesman Cicero once said, “Gratitude is the greatest of virtues, and the parent of all the others.” You can unpack this statement to see that it’s true. Other virtues such as patience, kindness and humility, are not possible unless you are grateful first; grateful for the patience others have shown to you, grateful for the kindness you have received, and grateful in the knowledge that your gifts are delivered from without and not from within. None of us earned what we have. Practice gratitude first, and other virtues will follow.

Paul was big on gratitude in his letters to fellow Christians. In Colossians and 1 Thessalonians he admonishes, “Be thankful,” and, “Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Cicero predated Christ and the Apostle Paul by about a century. He clearly saw a need for gratitude. That need is no less pressing today. It takes daily practice to be grateful. For most of us, we can start with being grateful that we have the luxury of being able to practice. Thank God for that and move on from there.

God bless you!

Neil