Today is a day for gratitude

It was one of those mornings when everything I tried to do required an extra step or needed something I didn’t have.  Instead of getting overly upset (it was tempting, as an occasional pity party can be satisfying), I went for my gratitude box.  The first card I picked up read:  “Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.”  So what happens? My daughter stopped in for an impromptu visit and helped me fix my computer. The second card I pulled out absolutely nailed it: “The  more we praise and celebrate about life, the more there is to celebrate.”

Intrigued,  I kept going.  “Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.”  Thinking lightly of yourself reminded me that most of the direct messages I’ve received from God have all reminded me to get over myself.  Which made me laugh,  as I have this tendency to take myself much too seriously.  The next card  read, “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance and happiness.”  So true!

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By focusing on being grateful for what I already have, I realized my tension and frustration was lifting.  Once again, practicing gratitude helped.  So I continued allowing my gratitude box to minister to me.  “If the only prayer you say in your life is ‘thank you,’ that would suffice,”  Meister Eckhart wrote,  which was reaffirmed by Rene Brown’s “What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude, ”   which reminded me of Anne Lamont’s observation that she has three simple prayers:  “Help. Thanks.  Wow.”

By now, the morning was almost over, so instead of feeling obligated to return to my “to-do” list, I decided to go for a walk.  As I walked,  I reflected on Elizabeth Gilbert’s observation that “In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, or as long as we have voices.”  Thank you, God.  Thank you, world.  Thank you, family.  Thank you, friends!

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