The moment you have gratitude for something is the moment you show love for that something

​While I was walking Sunday, I listened to a pastor say, "The moment you have gratitude for something is the moment you start to show love for that something."

I thought about that for a minute. I guess without thinking about it much, I'd always assumed that love came first. I guess before hearing that sermon I'd have thought I was grateful for things because I loved them.

Then I got to thinking about me and God. One way or another God has been in my life since I was born. But I didn't start loving God until 14 years ago. It was the day my first son was born - and almost died the same day. Leaning over an incubator in a NICU that day I simply whispered, thank you.

I have loved God ever since.

By no means was that the first time God had rescued me or something important to me in my life, it was simply the first day I was grateful for it.

Last night, I had dinner with my friend Solomon. After the dinner I posted a traditional picture of our mealtime together. In describing the picture I said, I love that guy.

Solomon and I have been friends for years. But the last six months or so that guy has showed up big every time I've needed someone; he's checked in even when I didn't need someone. With each meal together and with each run together I've become more grateful for him.

The moment you have gratitude for something is the moment you start to show love for something.

When I heard those words, and even after reflecting on the birth of my son, I'm not sure I was totally convinced of that order of things. Then the pastor said the same thing a little bit differently.

He said, "it's going to be very difficult in your life when you are not thankful for something to show that something love."

That's when I finally found myself saying, he's right...

I'm not going to love running if I'm not thankful for what running brings to my life.

I'm not going to love my job if I'm not thankful for what that job brings to my life.

I'm not going to love people in my life if I'm not thankful for what they bring to my life.

I'm not going to love this day ahead if I'm not thankful for the chance to live it.

I get it - sometimes we aren't going to be thankful for some of those things because as hard as we try, we can't find anything in there to be thankful for. And we'll likely never love those things.

Other times, though, it's possible we're not thankful for something because we haven't looked at all the reasons to be thankful for that something.

If you believe what that pastor said - like I think I do now - it's worth starting with gratitude. If you truly want to love something and you're not feeling it, don't start by looking for reasons to love it, look instead for reasons to be thankful for it.

If you're not completely in love with all you have ahead of you this day, don't try to force yourself to love it in spite of it all, find something to be thankful for in the day.

And then comes love.