Today's
Meditation:
I'm
sure we've all had the experience of hearing someone tell
us how grateful they are, even though we could tell all
along that their words were less than sincere. Or
we've heard people express their gratitude only to turn
around and act in a way that doesn't reflect any sort of
gratitude at all. A child can tell a parent that he
or she is grateful for all that parent has done, and then
turn around and act in a way that shows no respect for
that parent at all.
Actions
do speak louder than words, and I know that the greatest
expression of gratitude that I can show in my life is for
me to live a life that demonstrates my gratitude in all of
my actions. Am I grateful for the teaching that
someone has contributed to my life? Then I can put
that teaching into practice. Am I grateful for the
encouragement that someone has given me? Then I can
pass that encouragement on. Do I feel gratitude for
someone's financial help in my life? Then I can help
others to the best of my ability in their financial
matters.
It's
wonderful to express our gratitude. I know that it
gives me a very warm feeling when someone thanks me for
something that I've done. But is it enough to just
offer some words without showing that there's been some
real change in my life? Can it be enough if I'm not
willing to live by those words of gratitude?
"Thank you" of course denotes gratitude, but
these words also imply some sort of change in my life, and
it's up to me to demonstrate that change in all I do.
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