Gratitude

Gratitude: The Key to Joy and Productivity

September 21, 2025

People often say, “It’s not fair.” And they’re right—life isn’t fair.
But once we accept that truth, we can begin living differently. We can shift our focus from what we lack to what we’ve been given. That shift is called gratitude, and it has the power to unlock joy and even make us more productive.

Think about children for a moment. When they’re given unequal portions of something, their response depends on how they perceive it. Some will immediately cry out, “That’s not fair!” The complaint usually springs from a mix of entitlement and displeasure. And what follows? A bad attitude, resentment, and often a failure to appreciate what they did receive. Meanwhile, the giver—whether a parent, teacher, or coach—may feel unappreciated, frustrated, or even angry. Sometimes the giver gives in and tries to make up the difference. Other times they stand firm. Either way, the joy of the gift is lost in the cloud of comparison.

Adults aren’t much different.
We complain about workloads, unequal opportunities, or how someone else seems to have more while we’re stuck with less. Or we grumble about having “too much” of something we never wanted in the first place. The result is the same: a bad attitude and a lack of gratitude.

And I’ll be honest—this has been me, too.
There have been many times when I’ve looked around at my messy house and felt frustrated that I had to clean it all. As a teacher, I often felt like I was given the students with the most behavioral challenges and thought, Why me? There were seasons when I felt stretched thin, being asked to give when I didn’t feel like I had anything left. Even small inconveniences stirred up frustration in me. I like to think of myself as a kind person, but kindness alone didn’t cure my ungratefulness. Deep down, I sometimes carried a victim mindset.

But here’s what I’ve learned as I’ve grown a little more mature with age and experience: many of those things didn’t just happen to me, they happened for me.
That messy house taught me to appreciate the home I had. Those difficult students shaped me into a more patient, creative, and resilient teacher. The seasons of lack forced me to rely on God’s provision and not my own. And even the inconveniences reminded me that life isn’t built to cater to my comfort but to stretch me into something greater.

So now, instead of asking Why me? I’ve begun asking, Why not me?

Gratitude changes everything.
When we turn our eyes to what we have, instead of what others have, we gain clarity. Gratitude helps us focus on our portion—the exact set of responsibilities, opportunities, gifts, and resources that have been entrusted to us. Paul put it this way: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11–13).

This applies not only to material things, but also to our talents and abilities. Each of us has been given unique strengths and inclinations. When we choose to value and develop what we’ve been given, we grow. And when we grow, we’re able to build alongside others without envy or resentment.

I believe the same principle is true spiritually. Just as people favor those who receive their gifts with joy, God pours favor on those who keep a merry heart. His giving is not based on loving one person more than another, but on how the receiver values, stewards, and even shares what was given—no matter how big or small. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Gratitude positions us for joy. Gratitude makes us fruitful. Gratitude attracts favor.
And in a world that will never be “fair,” gratitude ensures we don’t miss the goodness already placed in our hands.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).