We often take so many things for granted. It is
important to learn about the art of looking for and
appreciating the real blessings of life, great and
small. There is an old saying that "a
donkey may carry a heavy load of sandlewood on its
back without ever knowing its value; all the donkey
knows is the weight of its load!" Often we,
too, may go through life, feeling only the weight of
circumstances, unable to know the precious nature of
life, simply because we may have a chronically
negative attitude. Cultivating the attitude of
gratitude can lead to self-appreciation and a more
positive mental perception of life.
Cicero once said, "There is no quality I would
rather have, or be thought to have, than
gratitude. It is not only the greatest virtue;
it is the mother of all the rest." The word
"gratitude" actually comes from the Latin gratis,
which means "pleasing" or
"thankful." And "-itude"
implies a quality or state of mind. So,
literally, gratitude is an attitude of pleasure and
joy and thanksgiving. . . .
The law of gratitude and thanksgiving is considered an
aspect of the universe that deals with the flow of
energy. That is, as you give out energy it
returns to you. This works in almost every
department of life. As one gives love, love can
be magnetized toward you.
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It may come back in a
different form, but it can return when it is given
without manipulation. This law of life is about
combining the expectations of the mind with the power
of the heart. You create a "mold" for
something good in your life, and with the power of
gratitude, good things continue to be drawn to you as
to a magnet.
"Ask and it shall be given you," says
Matthew 7:7, 8. As you work in this state of
thanksgiving you may find that money follows the same
law. Have you ever noticed that when we hoard
our resources, be it friendship, help, or affection,
the flow of the energy circuits often stops? But
as we give in love and appreciation, abundance flows
to us.
This can also be true with the law of
forgiveness. The lack of self-forgiveness in any
single area of life can fester like a poison within
and may bring anger, pain, and illness.
Psychologists and sociologists often infer that the
damage from childhood experiences can set patterns
into motion that may follow an adult through life,
being projected outward, unless forgiveness is
attained.
"Dwell not on the past," Eileen Caddy writes
in God Spoke to Me. "From this
moment onward you can be an entirely different person,
filled with love and understanding, ready with an
outstretched hand, uplifted and positive in every
thought and deed."
Have you ever wondered what it might be like if we
couldn't appreciate the good things of life, such as
spirituality, music, art, drama, literature, friends,
dance, sports, nature, and all that makes life worth
living? Have you ever considered the possibility
that gratitude, thanksgiving, and the power of
forgiving could be as creative as other works achieved
in the world? Every person may not be great
according to the terms of the world, but we can be
grateful! Perhaps true appreciation is a
fantastic kind of creativity that can lead to
spiritual growth. Let us choose our lives with
love and gratitude. Let us use the laws of
thanksgiving and forgiving to bless ourselves and
others and make our lives more complete.
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