The Blessing of Gratitude
Late fall foliage
Dear Soul Friends,
I love waking up grateful. It doesn’t always happen but when it does, I know I’ll have a good day. Spontaneous gratitude is a gift I treasure especially when I’m focused on the tasks of the day and too busy to remember that gratitude is a window into Holy Presence.
A few days ago, my husband, Bob, and I were having dinner with our twenty-four month old grandson, Henry. Bob placed a cup of water on his highchair tray and Henry looked up at him with a big smile and said in his sweet, singsong voice, “Thank you, Pop Pop.”
“You’re welcome,” Bob said.
“Thank you, Pop Pop,” Henry said a little faster as he stood up and leaned over the highchair tray. The game was on as the volley between “thank you, you’re welcome, thank you, you’re welcome, thank you,” got faster and faster until we all laughed. It was delightful.
I felt like I was inside a line from scripture when Jesus told his followers to become like little children. Children have wisdom adults often forget. All we need to do is offer a simple “thank you, Holy One,” and our hearts shift from our own troubles and worries to the gift of being alive. A simple chant of “thank you, Holy One,” releases anxiety and shifts our souls to a place of contentment and peace.
Over the years I have learned that the easiest way to be attentive to The Holy is to give thanks. Whenever I meet with someone for spiritual direction I start with a gentle prayer: “Gracious One, we give you thanks for your presence and the gift of this day. Help us to be open so we might hear you and know you.” Giving thanks softens our hearts and enables us to listen for wisdom and truth. Gratitude points us in the direction of wholeness. It helps us to feel content with life.
For many years there was a famous quote on the bulletin board in my office written by the thirteenth-century mystic, Meister Eckhart: “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” He’s right. Giving thanks is simple. Giving thanks is enough.
May you be blessed by the gift of gratitude and may your gratitude be a blessing for others.
Deep peace to you,
Susan
