be thankful. sleep better too.

It will enrich your life if you can train yourself toward a thankful heart. And I am not talking about just the week around Thanksgiving either. I am talking about cultivating an attitude of thankfulness that permeates your life.
I have said it many times but I am intrigued by the story in Luke where Jesus heals ten people, and only one of them takes the time to come back and express their thanks to Him. How can they not express a thank you for a life-changing event directly from the Lord's hand? How often do I neglect to make a conscious effort to take time to go before the Lord with words of thanks? (The scriptures are there to help us see ourselves.)

My post today is actually a sleep aid tip. My recommendation is that next time you find yourself lying awake in bed that you count on your ten fingers - ten things you are thankful for. One word answers like food, water, friends do not have the rich effect that a thoughtful and specific answer will. It is a great habit to pause at the end of every day and be thankful, very specifically, for blessings of the day even if you aren't having trouble sleeping. Even on a crappy day, they are many, many things to be thankful for. If I am lying in bed full of anxiety or stress or pain, I am amazed how comforting it is to count blessings on my fingers (and toes if necessary.)
I read once that research showed that people who have thankful and happy thoughts before bedtime actually sleep better, which makes a world of sense. That great old-time song comes to mind "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."