 |
The United Thank Offering has been around for
125 years, and sometimes people think of UTO as something only little
old ladies still cling to, something out of date and fading from the
modern world. But the goal of encouraging daily thankfulness and
generosity in our lives is far from outdated, and that IS the main goal
of UTO -- not just collecting money, but creating thankful people.
Every
Sunday in our liturgy we say it is "right, and a good and joyful thing
to give God thanks." It is our duty to give thanks, but like so many
Christian guidelines, what God asks of us turns out also to be good for
us and makes us happy. Quite a lot of research has been done on the
effects of thankfulness in our lives, and the list of its effects on the
thankful person is impressive. Thankful people have stronger immune systems; fewer aches and pains; lower blood pressure; better sleep; more joy, pleasure, optimism, and happiness; are more forgiving; and feel less lonely. A good and joyful thing, indeed!
But
like other Christian duties, thankfulness needs to be cultivated until
it becomes a habit, and your UTO Blue Box can help you with that. Every
day, take just a moment to name something you're thankful for, that day.
It can be as big as the love of your family or as small as the beauty
of an autumn leaf. Take a few seconds to put some money into your Blue
Box to share that blessing with others around the world. The more
moments of gratitude we build into our days, the more we are likely to
see the benefits of thankfulness - to ourselves and to the world.
The United Thank Offering is not out of date -- it's as current as social media. Like us on Facebook!
