if thankfulness were a drug…

Today, the fourth Thursday in November, is it Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America. That is, of course, fine, as long as we well remember that thanksgiving, in the Bible, is not linked to one day in the year, but to every day of the year. Knowing that there is one GOD, Who loves His creation and from Whom we receive everything, it logically follows that we owe Him  gratitude for everything. Realize the reality of GOD and ‘thanksgiving’ will follow, spontaneously. When Paul, on the Areopagus, addressed the people concerning their “unknown God”, he said that THIS ONE does not need anything from human hands…

…as if requiring anything, since HE HIMSELF gives to ALL life and breath and ALL. -Acts 17:25-

Whoever gives thanks to GOD, honors Him, whereby it is important to remember that the word “GOD” (theos) means “Placer”, i.e. GOD is the One who gives everything a place. Should He not give a place to everything, then nothing would  take place. This GOD, “Who from the beginning, proclaims the outcome” (Isa.46:10), completes with steady hand a perfect plan, in which evil, also, has been assigned a substantial role (Isa.45:7). For without the knowledge of evil, there will be no knowledge of good (Gen.2:9). This realization enables us to give thanks to GOD in everything (1Thes.5:18), not because everything is good, but because he who loves God, knows that all things work together for good (Rom.8:28). The ‘minuses’ that we see around us or experience, are really ‘pluses’… not yet finished! For this, we thank Him and honor Him as GOD (Rom.1:21). Giving thanks to GOD is our “logical divine service” (Rom.12:1). Man is created to give thanks and so honor GOD. In the Greek word for ’thanksgiving’ (eu-charis), grace (=charis) is included, i.e., gratuitous joy. Whoever gives thanks, not only becomes happy, but thanksgiving, as no other, single factor, contributes to our vitality and health. Solomon, already three thousand years ago, declared:

A rejoicing heart does good as a cure… -Prov.17:22-

A leading expert in the field of biology and psychology, recently stated:

“If thankfulness were a drug, it would be the world’s best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system.” Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, head of the department of biological psychology at Duke University Medical Center-

In the article in which I found this quotation, it was explained how gratitude benefits health. Grateful people are not only happier, but also make fewer visits to the doctor. Gratitude has a proven positive effect on the neurotransmitters that determine our mood (such as serotonin), on stress-hormones (cortisol), on sex hormones (testosterone), on our blood pressure, our immune system, etc. And then I’m still ignoring the fact how much ‘gratitude’, also, is of benefit to us, socially. Dear reader, “gratitude” is not a product that you can buy at the pharmacy. But I have a message of good news! It is free of charge and readily available to all who want it. Realize that there is one GOD, Who holds all in His hands and Who will bring all to a successful conclusion… and gratitude will readily fill your heart and cause your eyes to shine brightly. And much more! The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

And a good report makes the bones healthy. -Prov.15:30-

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