In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:18).
Gratitude is good for you! When you’re grateful, it lowers stress and depression, reduces feelings of envy and resentment, decreases aches and pains, increases resilience, improves your relationships and helps you sleep better.
Here are some articles to help you delve deeper:
Editorial by Terry Forde
The New Testament account of how Jesus used a small boy’s lunch to miraculously feed a multitude of more than 5,000 is a remarkable story and one that speaks of God’s abundant care for every person, in even our mundane daily needs.
But look what happens next: “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost’” (John 6:12, KJV). Having graciously provided for their hunger, Jesus now invites His followers and all of the crowd to be part of the next part of the story.
Story by V. Michelle Bernard
For we are God’s masterpiece (Eph. 2:10). Studies have shown that expressing yourself through art or creative projects can help decrease depression and anxiety. For older people, it has also been linked to improved memory, reasoning and resilience.
Here are some articles, resources and inspiration to help you get started:
Did you know Kettering Adventist HealthCare has a recipe library? (This isn’t about art, but thought you should know;))
Story by Elizabeth Anderson
One of the ways Liliana, a mother who was abused at church when she was young, bolsters her children so they don’t become prey “is to give them agency, confidence…that they are in charge of their bodies.” She has explained to her three daughters that they don’t have to hug anyone at church if they don’t want. “When they are toddlers and little children, hugging brother so-and-so is not an issue, right? But once they become 12 and 14, those hugs can become very uncomfortable…maybe not because brother so-and-so is a predator but because I am 14 and I don’t want to smash my breasts against this old man,” Liliana says.