Reflecting on Gratitude

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clem456

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Gratitude.
My lenten task is to cultivate gratitude.
Doesn’t come naturally.
Gratitude is the antidote to envy, so I hear. I cannot seem to shake envy and regret, always feeling like I should be like the other guy, always inferior in some way.

In the year of mercy I find it hard to pass along God’s mercy if I do not have gratitude for the gifts I have been given.

What is gratitude really? Does one have to feel thankful to be grateful? Does saying '“thank you” bring it about?

Can I cultivate it or is it a gift from God? Does gratitude come from joy and peace, or is it the other way around?
 
I don’t know, but all I do know is that I am grateful for everything. And I tell Our Lord, Our Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph every day how grateful I am to them for all they do and have done for me. I am grateful for all of the graces, blessings and gifts they’ve given me.

I am grateful that I have food and shelter, even if our home is falling apart, I still am protected from the elements and, in the winter, stay reasonably warm.

I am grateful that I can walk, have use of both of my arms.

I am grateful that I can hear and see.

I am grateful, or try to be, for everything, and take nothing, absolutely nothing, for granted.

Like the saying goes: Put gratitude in your attitude.

Thank Our Lord each and every day, as many times a day as you remember.

He’s given us so much, and, to many of us, He’s given us more than we could ever be worthy. So, we try to make ourselves less unworthy than we are.

Every night, in one of the prayers that I pray, is this sentence:

All ye angels and saints, unite with me in praising the God of mercies, who is so bountiful to so unworthy a creature.

He is truly the God of Mercy! 👍
 
I believe gratitude like many other things can be cultivated through practice and perseverance. Whether it is a gift from god I can’t say. But then again aren’t all things gifts from the divine?
 
Check out the “Gratitude Alphabet threads” if you need help remembering things to be thankful for. 🙂

ICXC NIKA
 
I believe it, gratitude, can be cultivated and it’s a worthy goal for Lent. Years ago Oprah suggested that people should change their attitudes into more positive ones and she said get a journal and each day write down five things you are thankful for. I was always a pretty positive person but I tried it anyway and I think it really brought me closer to God because when I looked around, He was the author of most of the things I was thankful for… sort of puts it in black and white… and I’m such a visual person…
 
Good suggestions all.
I was thinking the other day how “Eucharist” means thanksgiving and it is the source and summit of our faith. Our Lord gave thanks even in the midst of his impending trials.
 
5 things to be thankful for today.

My wife and two children who are currently both at home for a 10 day visit.
Job to provide.
Awareness of and discomfort over my sins, that God is drawing me to further conversion.
Shelter and food.
Healthcare.
 
Gratitude
For the opportunity to serve others.
For the snow we have.
For the time with family
For my friends in Christ
That my friend’s son has found a job
 
Grateful for:
Health
Healing-physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual
Breath
This moment
The way
 
Gratutide
That God gives me small tasks that are manageable (which I frequently turn into mountains)
For hot water
For good health
For working vehicles
For God sticking me in the ribs and urging me to conversion.
 
Hands with fingernails, fingers and washable skin
Skin to cover up the blood and guts and bones
Blood
Guts
Bones
 
Grateful for the ability to move, warm home, fresh air, snow, healthier food choices.
 
Grateful
for quiet time today
for life
that I exist and can know God
for my children
for the call to love
 
Today I’m grateful for the sunshine and fresh air, that I’m not blind or in a wheel chair due to diabetes,(like a friend is), physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual, health.
 
for reading
for writing
for communicating ideas
for thinking
for loving the creator of all
 
Gratitude for life and breath.
Gratitude that God created me.
Gratitude my wife is here.
 
Grateful for the ability to help others. Grateful for a new grandson last march and another grandchild due next august. Grateful for healing. Grateful for a break in the arctic temps. Grateful for the moment.
 
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