Not too long ago, a university researcher conducted an experiment on gratitude. But her motives weren’t purely academic. This researcher is a mother of four teenagers. She explained, “I wanted to learn more about how I can raise my kids to be more grateful in an era of entitlement.”

What she learned might be a bit surprising: gratitude is tied to feelings of indebtedness. We often think of debt as a burden, an obligation that must be paid. But the research study found that feeling indebted to God, acknowledging what He has done for us, “leads to increased overall happiness and well-being.” The debt we owe to Him is one we can never pay, yet those who recognise that debt actually feel closer to Him, not intimidated by Him. What’s more, they are more likely to reach out to others in acts of service and kindness. Rather than feeling burdened, they seem to be uplifted and inspired by their debt to the Giver of all good gifts.

The study was published in a major academic journal, but it had a major influence in the researcher’s family. “In our house,” she said, “we don’t just practise the feeling of gratitude; we practise acknowledging our indebtedness and expressing our gratitude through service.”

We all owe much to the kindness and goodness of others. While we’re certainly responsible for our own choices in life, we are indebted also to those who have taught us, nurtured us, paid our school fees and helped us along the way. And, above all, we are indebted to our Maker for life and everything in it. Indeed, every good thing comes from Him.

The more deeply we feel that, the more inclined we are to see that goodness all around us. We start to see God’s hand not just in our lives but in others’ as well. In this way, we draw closer both to God and to His other children our brothers and sisters in God’s wonderful world.

When we express thanks, we are giving a gift: a gift to ourselves, to others, and to our Maker, the Giver of the blessings of life. And those blessings are all around us if we look for them.

A woman who had known much of heartache, even despair, came to the realisation that she needed to actively look for good things in her life. It sounds like such a simple thing, but she found that it took diligent effort; focusing on her hardships was so much easier. But she was fortunate to have a trusted friend who, in a patient and loving way, helped her see that she really was surrounded by blessings and beauty. The true miracle came when she took the next step and expressed thanks for those blessings. The more she did, the more she had to be grateful for! And life began to get a little better for her.

Gratitude, like love, is self-perpetuating—it grows as we express it. We might express our thanks in prayer, in a journal entry, or in a letter. Perhaps an even better way is to share our blessings, to give someone else something to be grateful for. This is how gratitude changes the world—it starts by changing our hearts.

Children who are sincerely grateful are likely to see even more generosity from their parents. Spouses who express heartfelt thanks will always be happier with each other. And surely God, who knows and sees all, has blessings in store for those who offer sincere thanks to Him. He may not need to hear our gratitude, but we definitely need the change of heart that comes of expressing it.

It’s been said that unexpressed gratitude is like wrapping a present but never delivering it. No act of appreciation is ever wasted. And we don’t have to be sitting around the Thanksgiving table. Any time is a good time to give thanks. No matter the time or the season, we are always blessed by the gift of gratitude.

By Samuel Enos Eghan