Oxygen to the Soul
I once heard someone say that gratitude is oxygen to the soul. We need air to breathe, and we need gratitude to be fully alive. The Bible talks about gratitude over 100 times. Perhaps this is because the Creator wired our brains in such a way that when we direct our thoughts toward gratitude, the part of the brain that triggers the fight-or-flight stress response is disarmed.
How good of our God to provide relief—an outlet for the turmoil in our minds. Minds often filled with to-do lists, with responses to the words of others, and with more information than we were ever created to take in within a single day… or even within thirty minutes of scrolling. Our loving Savior provides emergency exits.
I’ve sat on airplanes and watched flight attendants give instructions on what to do in case of an emergency at least a hundred times. I’ve never had to use them, but the instructions are always clear. Scripture invites us to give thanks in all things, because this is the will of our Heavenly Father. It is God’s good will for us to find a ready exit from overwhelming, difficult moments—not by running away, but by inviting Him in. What a gracious escape, and it’s free. All we need to do is direct our attention, our thoughts, and our imagination toward the many wondrous ways God has loved us. When I begin saying, “Thank you, Jesus, for this and for that,” I am really saying, You love me, and You keep on loving me. Knowing I am loved by the Savior disarms every narrative of worry, fear, and doubt.
Gratitude is remembering—looking back and reliving the treasured moments that have brought warmth to our hearts. If every good and perfect gift comes from above, then every good thing we experience is a celebration of His hand.
Gratitude can also be found in moments of awe and wonder, when we pause to notice what is in front of us and around us. I sense the invitation to enter gratitude through glimpses of beauty: sunsets, the few leaves that change color in Long Beach, the sound of rain, champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate), crisp morning air, good sleep, long hugs, and laughing hard when you’re not supposed to. I’m grateful for the emergency exits that offer reprieve when life feels heavy and ministry feels weighty. And I’m grateful for the kindness of Jesus shown through my Long Beach Collective familia.