A Lifestyle of Gratitude

Today, I begin what God placed on my heart a few months ago: 35 days of celebrating 35 years of life. This isn’t just a countdown to a birthday; it’s an intentional heart posture of reflection, laughter, and above all, gratitude.

Before the candles, before the music, before the cake, there is gratitude. Gratitude is the heartbeat of celebration, the posture that steadies us when life is both wild and wonderful. And so, I want to start these 35 days not with noise, not with glitter, not even with balloons, but with a quiet bow of the heart to say, thank You, Lord.

Over the next 35 days, I will take time to unpack and share what I’m grateful for, one reflection at a time. But today, as we begin, I want to lay them out, like a buffet spread, a feast of thanks to which my soul keeps returning. Each item on this list is a story, a memory, a moment of God’s kindness wrapped in flesh, time, and experience.

This is the inventory of my heart. I am grateful…

1. For life itself, and the chance to fight another day, another week, another year. Each sunrise is proof that the story is not finished, and the fight is still on.
2. For good health, which I no longer take lightly. The strength to rise, to move, to breathe freely, these are miracles we deem as ordinary.
3. For peace of mind, that elusive treasure that guards my thoughts when storms try to rage.
4. For strength in my body to do all God has called me to do. Not just strength for survival, but strength for assignment.
5. For the gifts God has entrusted to me, and the wisdom and grace to shape them into something that brings Him glory.
6. For my mother, her life, her heart, her unwavering love, and her continued health.
7. For my Dad in every true sense of the word, whose steady presence as a father and grandfather still astonishes me with its depth.
8. For my sister, my truest friend, confidant, and prayer partner, the one who knows both the weight and the laughter of my life.
9. For my brother, who is no longer just the boy I watched grow, but a man, a friend, and a pillar of strength in his own right.
10. For my brother-in-love, who gets my quirks, shares my love for food, and sees me with eyes of grace.
11. For Ceaser, my husband, my best friend, my purpose partner, the father of my children, and the man with whom I share not just vows, but vision.
12. For Caleb, his spunk, his boundless energy, his tender heart, and the unmistakable mark of God upon his life.
13. For Chiara, her big heart, her feisty personality, her bold faith, and the evident hand of God shaping her story.
14. For Fredah and Esther, my sister-cousins, safe spaces where love flows both ways, without measure.
15. For my twin, Sid, my lifelong companion since I was two months old, the fountain of life’s twists and turns and the laughter necessary to endure.
16. For my business, the work of my hands that feeds, sustains, and builds.
17. For the teams I lead, who carry the vision with me, through chaos and triumph alike.
18. For my friend Lilly, the other half of the brain, whose voice of reason steadies my wild ideas while never dimming their fire.
19. For the call to impact the next generation, a holy weight I gladly shoulder.
20. For the sacred privilege of using my gifts and watching them ripple through real lives in real time.
21. For my friend Chilombo, my constant companion on this rugged road of life.
22. For my friend Patra, who has seen it all, me acting a fool, my growth, my pain, and she remains through the years.
23. For my friend Benjamin, a brother, a pastor, a faithful friend.
24. For my friends Lunyanshi and Emmanuel, purpose partners, kingdom builders, co-labourers in parenting and life.
25. For my big brother and big sister, Kaunda and Maggie, who have been the answered prayer of a firstborn who needed someone to show up for her as she showed up for others. You two in my corner is such a kiss from heaven.
26. For all my friends who steady me, challenge me, make me laugh, pray for me, and do life alongside me.
27. For my home church, where correction, edification, and community continue to shape me. Not forgetting the joy of serving my church family, especially through the care team.
28. For the children’s ministry of my church, which watered me and now waters the seeds of faith in Caleb and Chiara.
29. For my connection group, where iron sharpens iron and bonds are forged in faith.
30. For my pastors, their sacrifices, their leadership, and their heart for God and His people.
31. For the friendship I share with my Ceaser, which remains a daily miracle that two imperfect people get the chance to keep choosing to love, forgive, and grow.
32. For the privilege of living a life that overflows with blessing, where what God pours in does not stop with me but runs over to others.
33. For the Holy Spirit, my Guide, my Teacher, my Comforter, and my constant Companion. His work in my life is so precious to me.
34. For the call to be Fathered by my Heavenly Father, His love, His patience, and His steadfast hand.
35. For my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose passion for me, whose prayers for me, and whose authority in me empower me to please the Father.

This list could go on forever, but here is where I begin. Thirty-five days, thirty-five years, and an endless river of gratitude flowing from my heart.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. ~ Psalm 100:4-5 (NLT)

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, and for His wonderful acts to the children of men! ~ Psalm 107:21 AMP

Gratitude is more than a polite “thank You, Lord.” It is a weapon, a shield, a compass, and an offering. Gratitude ushers us into the very presence of God. And once we are there, nothing remains the same. It is not simply an accessory to prayer; it is the very door that opens us into God’s courts. It is the language of heaven, a melody that shifts atmospheres and reminds our souls that we belong to a faithful God.

The past few Sundays, my pastor has been teaching about practising thankfulness, and those words have been echoing in my spirit. Gratitude, he reminded us, is not just for the good days or for the moments when everything aligns; it is a practice for all seasons. That teaching, coupled with my predetermined thirty-five days of gratitude, has had me thinking more intentionally about the benefits of gratitude. I’ve realised it is not only a discipline but a lifeline. Gratitude steadies, strengthens, and transforms us, and it draws us closer to the heart of God.

Here are five ways a grateful heart reshapes life:

Gratitude grounds us in God’s goodness.

Life can be a fight, some days a fistfight, other days a marathon. On some mornings, the battle is just getting out of bed; on other days, it is enduring the long stretches of waiting without losing faith. Gratitude steadies us in both. When we pause to remember what God has done, we remind ourselves of who He is: faithful, loving, and unchanging. It is so easy to be swept up by the storms of the moment, but gratitude is like throwing down an anchor. It says, “Yes, the waves are high, but I am secured to the Rock that does not move.” Gratitude becomes the anchor that prevents us from drifting into despair, even when circumstances tempt us to let go. It keeps us tethered to truth, reminding us that His goodness has carried us this far and will not abandon us now.

Gratitude strengthens us for the fight.

A thankful heart shifts our focus from what’s lacking to what’s present. It reorients us to abundance instead of absence. Gratitude fuels courage because it opens our eyes to see how God has already equipped us. When we look back and count His faithfulness, suddenly we are reminded that He is still with us in today’s challenges. Gratitude reframes battles, teaching us to see obstacles not as proof of abandonment but as arenas for God to demonstrate His power. Every challenge becomes an opportunity for Him to show Himself strong. Gratitude gives strength because it keeps hope alive, and hope is what keeps us moving forward when the road is long. It whispers, “If God has brought you through before, He will do it again.”

Gratitude cultivates peace.

Where worry whispers, gratitude sings louder. Anxiety may try to fill our minds with what-ifs and maybes, but gratitude pushes back with the truth of God’s promises. When our mouths are full of thanks, our minds are less crowded with fear. Gratitude changes the atmosphere; it turns chaos into calm, not because the storm disappears instantly, but because our perspective shifts. It’s not a denial of hardship; it’s choosing the higher lens of faith. Gratitude allows us to rest even in the middle of uncertainty because it keeps us anchored in the assurance that God is still in control. In this way, gratitude becomes the soil where peace grows, and peace, in turn, becomes the shield that guards our hearts and minds.

Gratitude pleases God.

Thanksgiving is worship. It is the fragrance that delights the Father. He doesn’t need our thanks to remain God; He is God regardless of our words, but He delights in it because it reveals our trust in Him. Every thank You is a declaration that we believe His character is good, even when we do not fully understand His ways. Gratitude declares, “You are worthy of glory, even here, even now.” It pleases Him because it positions our hearts rightly, humbled, surrendered, and full of reverence. Gratitude is not flattery; it is faith made audible.

Gratitude makes us conduits of blessing.

When we thank God, we create overflow. A grateful heart cannot hoard; it spills into words, actions and generosity. Gratitude makes us rivers, not reservoirs. It reshapes the way we interact with people because it lifts our eyes from ourselves to see the fingerprints of God in others. A grateful person is often a generous person because gratitude opens our hands. When we live in thankfulness, our very presence encourages others to notice God’s goodness in their own lives. Gratitude is contagious; it multiplies joy and inspires faith.

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Gratitude is not passive; it’s active, powerful, and deeply spiritual. It turns hearts into altars and lives into testimonies. It doesn’t just shift our mood; it changes our outlook and, in many ways, our destiny. Gratitude lifts us out of the pit of self-pity and sets our feet on the rock of perspective. It is the fuel of worship, the breath of faith, and the fragrance of trust.

As I walk through these next 35 days, I do so with open hands and a bowed heart, remembering that every year, every breath, every relationship, every opportunity is a gift. None of it is owed, none of it guaranteed; it is all grace. And so, as the psalmist sang, I too declare: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving… for the Lord is good, and His love endures forever.” This is my beginning. My birthday is still days away, but my celebration starts now, with gratitude.