Flourishing: Cultivating Gratitude in Troubled Times

We are living in a dangerous time — and our people know danger well.

Across this land, evil forces — baptized in the lies of race, trained in the practices of discrimination, and discipled in the theologies of White, male, heteronormative, Christian supremacy — are working to drag us backward. These assaults are not random; they are targeted strikes against our collective progress.

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• Black women are being forced out of work in disproportionate numbers

• SNAP benefits are being cut as food and housing costs rise

• Colleges and support programs for Black and Brown students are being stripped and starved

• ICE raids are spreading fear through immigrant and mixed-status families

• Voting rights — the very tools of our collective power — are under siege

 

Our ancestors would tell us: This is familiar. Whenever we advance, the powers of the world try to roll us back. And yet — this too is true: Flourishing is our birthright. ​The Rev. Dr. Neichelle R. Guidry of Spelman College reminds us that cultural, systemic, and interpersonal forces constantly threaten our personal and communal flourishing. These are not abstractions — they are lived realities. But she also teaches that flourishing — especially for Black people, especially for Black women — is an act of holy defiance.

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Flourishing does not mean trouble is gone. Flourishing is not make-believe optimism. Flourishing is not pretending things are okay. Flourishing is our refusal to surrender our humanity to oppressive conditions.
 

Delores Williams taught us that God’s response to our suffering is not cheap triumph but survival and quality of life where we stand. Moreover, Katie Geneva Cannon reminded us that our ethical task is to do the work our souls must have — work that brings life, dignity, and joy, not because conditions are ideal, but because God made us free.

We understand the assignment. It is healing under pressure. It is expanding under threat. It is blossoming in the wilderness. Flourishing is what happens when we remember who — and whose — we are.

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But seek first the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given in addition to you. Matthew 6:33

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This is one of the New Testament's most popular and often-memorized verses. Jesus is teaching about God’s providence. As we know God and recognize God’s sovereign hand over all of creation, we can move beyond fear, worry, and doubt about our lives.

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Gratitude is a central virtue in the Hebrew scriptures, the New Testament, and the Qur’an. 

 

Let's define Gratitude. It is the parent of all virtues, a virtue that begets other virtues. Gratitude is rejoicing in what is. It is the opposite of regret, which is a feeling of sadness for what is, and of nostalgia, which aches for a past that is now gone.

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Gratitude flows from a healed body, expanding spirit, and flourishing soul. It is appreciating the good things in your life, no matter how big or small. Making the practice of gratitude a regular part of your day can build happiness and self-esteem and provide other health benefits.

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The Gratitude Exercises worksheet summarizes five activities to help you start practicing gratitude. Exercises include journaling, taking a mindfulness walk, writing a gratitude letter, and more. Although these exercises are simple to learn and practice, the challenge comes from consistency. Spend time in session discussing each exercise and creating a plan for their use. Ideally, establish a schedule or routine for daily gratitude practice (e.g., journaling every night before bed).

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TIP: For gratitude exercises to be effective, consistent and thoughtful practice is important. Rushing through exercises to “get them done” does not work. The purpose of each activity is to genuinely reflect on feelings of gratitude for several minutes every day.