It is the nature of desire not to be satisfied, and most men live only for the gratification of it.

-Aristotle

Gratefulness seems to be a lost art.  In our modern American culture, which is characterized by plenty, and I do mean plenty of everything, it is difficult to find gratefulness.  According to most of what we read and know, even the very poorest of Americans are much better off than much of the rest of the world.  

In a satiated society, it is not only difficult to find gratefulness, but it is difficult to teach and transfer that virtue to the next generation.  How do you teach someone to be thankful for what is always available and easily taken for granted?  Even though I have raised my children with many material blessings, I have tried to convey to them that these are not guaranteed, and that being grateful is a part of being content.  

It seems that the advertisement industry inspires discontent and the concept of never being satisfied, because the consumer "deserves" the best. The advertisements, which clamor for our attention, are always based on the idea that we should never be content, but always strive for more of everything, and if we happen to have everything, then we should look for the better version of everything.

In our dissatisfaction, we become convinced that the next thing that we are seeking will satisfy us, but in all reality, we are never satisfied.  This is because material things only fill a void for a space of time, and then our human spirit is looking for something fresh and new to inspire and bring happiness.  Aristotle's quote is true.  We are born wanting and seeking; our entire lives are spent striving to fulfill our desires, and when our lives end, we are still seeking and looking for the next thing.

As I have grown older, I have come to realize that if I had everything my heart desired, I would soon become discontent and seek for more.  This is easily seen when we observe the lives of the "rich and famous" among us.  If material things and fame brought complete satisfaction, then those who have such things would never have need of mind altering drugs or alcohol to help them face life.  All too often, we see that those who seem to have the most in our society have the biggest problems dealing with life.  Could this be based in the fact that we have high expectations that fortune and fame should bring ultimate satisfaction?  When will we really come to the understanding that true contentment is a condition of the inner man and is a God given thing, not at all related to how many material things a person possesses?

It is ironic to me that the most contented people are the ones who have the fewest possessions.  Material things are demanding, and the more that we have, the more we must do to take care of these things.  When you look at the lives of those who have much and those who have little, it is interesting that satisfaction and contentment and thankfulness is not dependent on how much one possesses.  It is a condition of the heart.  Any one can choose to be content, can make a decision to be grateful and to live a life that reflects that gratefulness.  Gratefulness keeps us from becoming self centered and dissatisfied.  The focus in a thankful heart is on the giver, not on the gift or possession.

My goal is to be grateful every single day that I live.  I want to live a life that reflects gratefulness.  As I've pondered this, I realize that there are some areas in which I can improve.  I often gripe and complain about small petty things.  In my mind they are not really complaints, because it appears that I'm just stating the fact...that I am cold, or I am tired, or I have a headache, or my feet hurt, or I wish I had a better car, or more dark chocolate!  For someone who is truly grateful and filled with inner contentment, these things would be trivial and small, not necessarily topics of conversation.  I am not advocating that we never state that we are cold, or hungry, or tired. I just think that it would be good to step back and get perspective.  I dare say that someone in a third world country would gladly trade places with me and bear the things about which I complain without saying a word.  It really is all about perspective.  A mature well rounded individual seeks to gain perspective, and strives to get out of the narrow rut or mind set that is the result of a life lived selfishly and directed inward instead of outward.

I am striving to be more grateful.  I want to live in a world that is filled with thankfulness and thankful people. A culture of grateful people is a kind culture, a generous society, a family that is constantly aware of our dependence on God and a dependence on and mutual need for each other.

Let's start a revolution of thankfulness!  I'll start today by being thankful for you, the reader of my blog.  I am very grateful that you have taken the time to read and reflect on my latest speech made from my "soap box." I am also thankful for the wonderful privilege of being an American.  I am thankful for my heritage that is rich in love and trust.  I am thankful for my family and for the God who has blessed me with all these things, and I am grateful for chocolate!