In the U.S. today people are getting things ready for a cookout, a picnic, hot dogs, fireworks, barbecue, homemade ice cream, and maybe some apple pie. We celebrate our independence with friends and family…and hopefully, with gratitude.

Fred Smith mentored many leaders, and he often talked about the power of gratitude…thankfulness. Smith says, “Authentic gratitude is recognizing and appreciating what we have now, not for what we hope to have.” And Fred Smith points out it isn’t gratitude just for good things in the past, though it’s good to recognize our blessings. Smith says, “It is relatively easy for people to recite a list of past items, but it is sometimes more difficult to express the current ones.”

One struggle we sometimes have with gratitude is that it shows our need for others. Once again, Fred Smith addresses this:

“Gratitude represents dependence. It says, ‘I can’t do this all by myself… I need your help.’ Whether we speak that to parents, teachers, colleagues, or God, it is a sign of humility.”

In a devotional, Henry Blackaby takes gratitude one step further:

“Thankfulness is a conscious response that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source. As Christians, we have been forgiven, saved from death, and adopted as God’s children. There could be no better reason for a grateful heart!”

And, as leaders, there is another byproduct of our gratitude. Those around us are blessed, as Fred Smith points out:

“When we acknowledge the contribution of others, we build them up.”

So, enjoy your day, and be grateful.