The Gift of Gratitude

A Single Thought of Gratitude Raised to Heaven Is the Most  Perfect Prayer

–(Gotthold Ephraim Lessing)

As a spiritual counselor I have dealt with many people over the years and I have a lot of compassion for all human frailties – - as God knows I have my own. I never judge people’s weaknesses,  choices,  mistakes, life style or their problems. I am only here to help and encourage but never to judge.

However, I must say that I have no empathy for the “ingrates” because those people never have and never will have enough, regardless of the abundance as they are incapable of recognizing their blessings and values and refuse to be grateful. To me these are the true ‘poor’ people, even if they have money. The lack of gratitude can also produce greed as there is never enough. And it’s a bottomless basket that can never be filled.

Gratitude is one of the Buddha’s great Virtues, it is a gift that we owe.…and we only owe it to ourselves. Why?  Because when we are grateful we are admitting that we have and then more shall be given.

What Are You Programming In Your Mind?

Through our thinking process we program our subconscious mind which does not judge good from bad, real from false. It only takes in what we give it and it acts upon that programming. Our mind is a most sophisticated computer so we better learn how to program this biological computer of ours  correctly with  positive and constructive thoughts for our  highest good.

Each time that we give thanks to the Universe we are actually admitting that we have. I give thanks every morning upon awakening for a new day of life. I give thanks each day as today I have more than I need, thank you Father! Today I have more food than I can eat, more money in my wallet than I can spend;  today I have a whole new life ahead of me. I give thanks for the functions of my body, for the sun light, for the love of God, for my friends, for my family and for the gift of LIFE, itself.

Unfortunately,  many people choose to dwell on the problems of life, which we all have at one time or another, with fear instead of faith, hope and gratitude.  Life is not an easy journey for anyone, but even in the midst of turmoil there is always something to be grateful for.

Each of us, at one point or another, go through the dark night of the soul, the valley of the shadow. Life is not always easy for anyone even for those who are viewed as highly successful. They too have their challenges.

One of the  main problem with many of us humans is the inability and, only too often, the unwillingness to leave the past behind.  These people  spend most of their present life regretting, resisting and resenting the past which can never be changed for the rest of eternity.  We can only learn from the past but we cannot  live in the past.  To live in the past is to become paralized thus unablle to move forth  and live in the present moment.  Then there are many of us who constantly live in fear and worry about the future and never have time to be grateful for the now which is the only time we truly have to live.   Let go of the past….. have faith in the future…… and be grateful for the gift of Life right  now!

What Are You Grateful For?

But even in the midst of difficulties we can always find gratitude for something. Regardless of how difficult things may be, or appear to be, always remember that we are still breathing, our hearts are beating, our legs and arms are mobil and, as long as there is life and air to breathe, there is hope. Never give into despair because God will never forsake us if we just acknowledge His Presence and His Love in gratitude which is the highest form of prayer

Over a year ago I lost my precious son to cancer, the most difficult lesson of my entire life. However each and every day I would thank God for giving me the strength to care for my child for many months during his illness. I would thank God that my boy was not dying alone in an empty hospital room.  He was home with his brother and I to care and be with him. He was surrounded by love by all of our family. I thanked God daily for having given me my precious son even though his life was short. When at the end he left this Planet I was grateful that he was no longer suffering and, praise God,  I still had one son left,  my younger son Jesse, to love and to cherish.  I had two choices: I could go to pieces or I could go to Peace.

I chose the Peace of God who was always by my side to give me strength and courage and above all acceptance of that which was destined to be.

I am not saying these things to show how brave I am, Oh no! Trust me when I say that I have walked many times through rough and steep roads and it was never easy. I know only too well how difficult it is to maintain faith when everything around gives us reasons to fear and despair. The Spiritual Path is not easy and it takes courage, patience, determination and discipline to maintain faith under all circumstances.

“Narrow is the gate and straight is the way….many are called but few enter”

I am expressing these feelings in gratitude hoping to help others to find gratitude even when life’s lessons are hard.
I grew up in Italy during World War II and let me tell you that those were very difficult times for all.
Our family gave thanks every day even if we only had a few potatoes or beans to eat. We gave thanks that we were still alive in the midst of bombing and destruction.
On the top level of our home three bedrooms were destroyed by a bomb, yet we were grateful that we had a storage room on the lower level which we converted into one single bedroom for myself, my mother and my aunt. We still had a roof over our head and for that we were grateful and gave thanks. We were alive and still together and for that we thanked God profusely.

There is an old saying: “I was crying because I had no shoes…….till I saw a man without feet” Amen!!

In this Wetern World we have so much more than millions of others on earth. But we always seem to want and need more. If we are grateful for that which we already have and are, then more will come as needed. Remember that abundance is of God on all levels of our being.
Abundance in love and joy, abundance in good health, abundance in financial affairs.
So wake up each morning and give thanks for Life itself!

Do you really want to glorify God?……Be grateful!

Peace and blessings!

Dioro

Please visit www.Gratitudelog.com. Highly recommended