shortlady
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
- Messages
- 2,696
A Gratitude Visit
I commend to you Phoebe, . . . for indeed she has been
a helper of many and of myself also. —Romans 16:1-2
Counting your blessings promotes good physical health,
according to a study by some US doctors. Volunteers
who kept weekly gratitude journals reported fewer
aches and pains than those who recorded daily hassles
or neutral events.
A "gratitude visit" was developed by Dr. Martin E. P.
Seligman to promote strong emotional health. He tells
people to think of someone who has made an important
difference in their lives. He asks them to write the
story of how that person has helped them, and then to
visit that person and read the story aloud. Tests show
that a year later the people who had done so were
happier and reported fewer episodes of depression.
Even more important, think of what it must have done
for those who were thanked!
The apostle Paul had a long list of people who had
helped him and for whom he was grateful (Rom.
16:1-16). He wrote that Phoebe had "been a helper,"
Priscilla and Aquila had "risked their own necks" for
his life, and Mary had "labored much" for him. And he
took time to write his thanks in a letter to the
church at Rome.
Who has helped to shape your life? Could you make a
gratitude visit—for their sake, and for yours? —Anne
Cetas
Consider what the Lord has done
Through those who've shown you love;
Then thank them for their faithful deeds,
For blessings from above. —Sper
Gratitude should not be an occasional incident but a
continuous attitude.
I commend to you Phoebe, . . . for indeed she has been
a helper of many and of myself also. —Romans 16:1-2
Counting your blessings promotes good physical health,
according to a study by some US doctors. Volunteers
who kept weekly gratitude journals reported fewer
aches and pains than those who recorded daily hassles
or neutral events.
A "gratitude visit" was developed by Dr. Martin E. P.
Seligman to promote strong emotional health. He tells
people to think of someone who has made an important
difference in their lives. He asks them to write the
story of how that person has helped them, and then to
visit that person and read the story aloud. Tests show
that a year later the people who had done so were
happier and reported fewer episodes of depression.
Even more important, think of what it must have done
for those who were thanked!
The apostle Paul had a long list of people who had
helped him and for whom he was grateful (Rom.
16:1-16). He wrote that Phoebe had "been a helper,"
Priscilla and Aquila had "risked their own necks" for
his life, and Mary had "labored much" for him. And he
took time to write his thanks in a letter to the
church at Rome.
Who has helped to shape your life? Could you make a
gratitude visit—for their sake, and for yours? —Anne
Cetas
Consider what the Lord has done
Through those who've shown you love;
Then thank them for their faithful deeds,
For blessings from above. —Sper
Gratitude should not be an occasional incident but a
continuous attitude.
