Gratitude As A Way Of Life

Make time today to consider this —

“In a world that moves fast, breaks often, and talks louder than it listens, one truth has quietly stood the test of time: Character matters.”

“…if there’s one virtue that underpins all the others, it’s not the flashiest or the loudest. It’s not bravery or brilliance. It’s gratitude.”

“…gratitude is not just a personal nicety; it is a civilizational necessity. It is the starting point for moral clarity, human connection, and social resilience. A grateful person becomes a better citizen. A grateful society becomes a more humane one.”

“…without shared virtues (gratitude being primary) human cooperation breaks down. No law, policy or technology can replace trust. And trust, at its core, is built on character. You don’t trust someone who’s merely competent; you trust someone who’s honest, loyal and fair. In modern times, though, virtues have been downgraded. We emphasize skills over ethics, image over substance, and performance over principles.”

What a sad mess a nation would be in if it valued skills without ethics, image more than substance, or performance with no reference to principles. Gratitude is not a thank-you note, or a passing nod; “it is not transactional — it is a disposition.” And it is fundamental in the practice of the Christian faith.

Quoted material taken from the article Gratitude First in OV Style Magazine; written by Kevin Boerup; November 2025