November 21, the gravity of gratitude.

But understand this, that in the last days,

there will come times of difficulty.

For people will be lovers of self,

lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive,

disobedient to their parents, ungrateful.

Notice how in gratitude goes with pride,

abuse, and insubordination.

In another place, Paul says,

let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk,

nor crude joking, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5.4.

So it seems that gratitude, thankfulness,

is the opposite of ugliness and violence.

The reason this is so is that the feeling of gratitude

is a humble feeling, not a proud one.

It is other exalting, not self-exalting.

And it is glad-hearted, not angry, or bitter.

Bitter thankfulness is a contradiction in terms.

The key to unlocking a heart of thankfulness,

and overcoming bitterness and ugliness

and disrespect and violence, is a strong belief in God,

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