Choosing to live a life of gratitude is one of the best things you can do for yourself. According to Sarah Young in her devotional book, Jesus Calling, it brings an abundant life. She states, “Enjoy abundant life by overflowing with praise and thankfulness.”

Why does gratitude bring such positive results? I would like to propose three reasons:

• Choosing to be grateful helps us keep our minds on positive things. We find ourselves looking for the good around us, and we generally get what we look for.

• Our lives tend to move toward what our minds think about. When we focus on the good things, we begin to have even more good in our lives.

• Recognizing the good around us gives us hope and opens our hearts to even greater things. When our heart is open to what the future may bring, we are ready to step in when that great opportunity shows up.

During this season of Thanksgiving and celebration of Jesus’ birth, maintain the mindset of gratitude so you can live . . . your life to the fullest.