Gratitude From Humility

I was thinking about gratitude recently. It's something that we try really hard to teach our kids about. We want them to feel grateful for the many good things and even the hard things in their lives. It's an attitude that Amy and I try to model for them.

Have you ever wondered where gratitude comes from?

Are we grateful because we have good things? Are we grateful because we know that others are not as "good off" as us?

Is gratitude just a comparison and contrast kind of thing or is it deeper? Is there a difference between gratitude and thankfulness?

So many questions.

Slowly, I'm starting to realize that gratitude first comes from place of humility. Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride is experienced when we don't think rightly of ourselves (that is too high or too low). When we are prideful we are unable to experience gratitude because we are either convinced that everything is our own doing or we can't even really receive the things that come to us.

The humble person is able to see things the way they are. They are able to recognize their hard work. They are also able to recognize the role that others have played in their life. When that happens they are able to realize gratitude.

Humility is even tougher to teach and model than gratitude. Both force me outside myself and see the world apart from self-centered reality.