I have a confession: I sometimes struggle with gratitude as a spiritual practice. When life throws curveballs, it can feel impossible to feel thankful - and sometimes the idea of "practicing gratitude" feels like I'm being asked to ignore or deny what's hard. Over time, I've learned a gentler way: what I call "Even Though Gratitude." When I'm feeling low, I might say, "Even though I'm upset at the world, I am grateful for my church," or "Even though my body doesn't have the energy I wish it did, I am grateful for being alive."
This small shift turns gratitude from a demand into a doorway. It acknowledges our struggles while helping us remember that light and shadow often exist together. Gratitude, at its heart, is a spiritual practice not because it erases pain, but because it helps us stay grounded in love, presence, and perspective - even in difficult times. If you ever find it hard to feel grateful, you might try this "Even Though" approach and see if it helps nurture gratitude in you, too.
Rev. Sian Wiltshire is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's minister. Please feel free to reach out and say hello! She can be reached by email, revsian@ocuuc.org, or by church phone at (714) 556-2882 (x302).