grateful

grateful = warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful

that is the definition of grateful according to dictionary.com

i challenged some girls i was leading in a prayer meeting a few years back to write a letter of appreciation to someone who has made an impact or difference in their life. i challenged them to think of someone that is not the "obvious" but perhaps someone they are no longer in contact or relationship with.

to be grateful is to sincerely thank someone for a role/part they played or provided regardless of how we may personally feel towards them now and whether the role/part they played is ongoing or something of the past.

what is gratefulness when you only appreciate those you 'like' or are in current friendship with? if that were the case or the deciding factor to the level of our gratefulness, well, i hate to say it but that is not gratefulness but selfishness. being grateful is just being thankful, period.

i believe a grateful heart is one that God blesses.