2004-08-20-A Lesson on Gratitude

Session

Lesson

Let us discuss heart-felt thankfulness. This is a state of being, yet at times it is very difficult to be thankful, especially when the future seems bleak, when matters do not develop as you would like them to, or your carefully laid-out plans go awry. It is then that you need to check your attitude towards everything. Do you easily get upset, so that even minor matters get to you, or are they the unexpected things that ‘knock you off your perch’ so to speak? Do you tend to be quite regimented in your approach to life, or do you allow yourself some leeway to ‘roll with the punches?’ Of course, the latter attitude is an easier one to cultivate. It is the pessimist who easily gets discouraged, and the optimist lets nothing deter him or her, and then there are all the different shades of attitude in between these extremes of either, or.

When a soul seeks a light-filled path, the easiest way to get there is with thankfulness. Never mind how tough the going may get, find something to be thankful for. There are many hidden blessings in life which are taken for granted as normal happenings, until something changes about these blessings, or takes them away. Take good health for instance; it is taken for granted that you are able to get out of bed by yourself in the mornings, and of course, that is as it ought to be, but many there are who for some reason or other find themselves incapacitated, be it through an accident, or a chronic disease, both of which can be accompanied by much pain.

They are the optimists, who train in perseverance and thankfulness, who flex faith and trust muscles and grow the indomitable spirit that helps them overcome maladies, which would cripple the pessimistically inclined human. It is the spiritual quality which defines the person, who dares to live in faith and hope, and sees the universe as a friendly place in which to live, as he or she learns to trust in the heavenly over-care. It is the living of the mortal life, and the decision-making process that lead to an unshakable trust in the goodness of God.

It is the gradual awakening into a greater self-hood, as well as an increase in awareness that life has purpose and that the spirit-continues, which is still yet an embryo in the womb of mother earth, from whose soil it was hatched, so to speak. You live on such a wonderful and beauteous planet, yet the un-awakened and unfeeling ones, possessed by greed, go on marring her beautiful face. Even She is a living and breathing being, who tries hard to retain Her balance, as it is with the humans living upon her.

There is a need to become more thoughtful and thankful for your planet-home which birthed your immortal soul, so She and you, both, can sing to the glory of God in expressing your thankfulness by being alive and well. Be, come alive, and become aware of all the reasons to be thankful, so your attitude will change to one of gratitude to the Creator and Giver of Life.