Creating a Heart of Gratitude

As I reflect on the seasons of my life, I’m grateful for every experience I have been given. I can’t remember a perfect day, but I can remember many good moments and even some great ones.

Through all the ups and downs, highs and lows, I have learned to praise the Lord and give thanks to Him, for He is good (Psalms 105:1, 106:1, 107:1). He is truly good! To have a heart of gratitude is so important in every circumstances. Each day that I wake up, I declare praises to God. I know I didn’t wake myself up. God gave me breath. God gave me a heartbeat. I can see and hear, and most of all, I can walk! That’s His grace, His mercy that endures forever.

We often take these blessings for granted. We become entitled to receiving because we are beyond blessed. We forget to thank God. I once heard a pastor say, “Imagine waking up one morning and only having what you thanked God for the day before, the house, the car, the food, even the ability to speak.” These are all given freely because God provides. He is so good. Often, it’s only when we lack something that we remember to thank Him. Gratitude is powerful! It has humbled me and helped me draw near to Him, to trust in Him. I need to and must give thanks to Him because He is good.

When I was in my 20s and 30s, I was athletic and physically strong. I believed that if I ate healthy and stayed active, my body could provide all I needed. But the wear and tear of life has shown me that each day is truly a gift. To appreciate each day and all that comes with it, we need to acknowledge our gratitude toward our Creator.

My 40s and 50s arrived with a forceful impact, taking my health in directions I could not have imagined. I suffered an accident that tested my faith and took away all the control I thought I had. Surgery after surgery, research, wisdom, and modern medical intervention, and nothing seemed to help me regain direction or restore my sense of purpose. My hearing and memory began to cause confusion. Yet the one thing that remained the same was my God. He never left me nor forsaken me. His goodness remained faithful.

God was teaching me gratitude, to praise Him each day and rejoice in even the smallest victories. Victories like skipping one dose of pain medication during unbearable treatments. Praising Him when I could simply go to the bathroom or eat without feeling nauseous. He was renewing my heart to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Today, as I wake up with swollen ankles, I choose to be patient with myself. I may walk in pain, or not walk at all that day, but I still praise Him. I praise Him that I am alive. I praise Him for giving me peace. He created me unique and different. He created me with a purpose. I am to give him praise in every situation so His name and His wonderful deeds would be known (Psalm 9:1).

---

Ly Mua Yang (N.Kx. Txoos Foom Yaj)

Ly (Hli) Mua Yang, serves faithfully alongside her husband, Kx. Txoos Foom Yaj, at Compassion Chapel in Maplewood, Minnesota. With 17 years in pastoral ministry, she brings a heart of compassion and excellence to her calling.  Currently, she is serving as a Chief Experience Curator, where she orchestrates meaningful events, provides educational guidance, and offers wise counsel to others.

A woman deeply gifted in hospitality, serving, and faith, Ly delights in creating warm, welcoming spaces for family, friends, and guests. She has been married for 35 years and is richly blessed with five children—four daughters and one son—as well as a growing family that includes in-laws and five grandchildren.

Ly enjoys the beauty of God’s creation through outdoor adventures like camping, hiking, horseback riding, and even hot air balloon rides. In her quieter moments, she loves baking and cooking, always striving to perfect new recipes to bless others. Her favorite comforts include seafood, charcuterie boards, chamomile tea, and brown sugar boba. Guided by her favorite Scripture, Philippians 4:4–7, Ly lives with a spirit of joy, gentleness, and unwavering trust in God.