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Gratitude is an antidote to taking things for granted and therefore, a key to happiness.
Judaism has a built in system that prompts us to pay close attention and to speak about the good in our lives. It’s called Hakarat Tovah – recognising the good – and it expresses itself in various Mitzvot, among them, the Mitzvah of Bikurim.
The Mitzvah of Bikurim commenced when the Jewish people first settled the land of Israel.
Each farmer would take the first fruits of each harvest and bring it to the Temple in Jerusalem. The farmer would then recount the story of the exodus from Egypt and the gift G-d gave to the Jews: a land flowing with milk and honey.
The average farmer who brought Bikurim was born in Israel. The miracles and exodus from Egypt occurred long before his time. He was used to being able to feed himself and his family. The chances were quite high that these blessings would not be thought of. To combat this, G-d commanded the Jewish people to express gratitude – in word and deed – for all these positive things that benefit the farmer. Hence gratitude is a verb. It's not just how I feel, it's what I do.
Powerfully, the verse following the instruction of the Mitzvah of Bikurim continues: “and you shall rejoice in all the good that G-d has given you and your family”.
This focused and verbalised gratitude prompts the farmer to be happy for the blessings he has received. This ritualising of gratitude makes one not take his blessings for granted.
Although the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, the concept of Bikurim received eternal life in Jewish ritual. Thus the Midrash teaches: “Moshe foresaw that the temple would be destroyed and the offerings of the first fruits would cease. He took the initiative and ordained that the Jewish people should pray three times a day”, thus counting their blessings.