Gratitude
by Marie T.
Russell
 There are so many things to
be grateful for! Birds singing, butterflies fluttering by, sunshine pouring its
energy on the earth, trees and the shade they provide, clouds for their beauty
and their rain, the bounty of Mother Nature that feeds our physical, emotional
and spiritual bodies, children playing, the love of our friends, the comforts of
modern living, the coolness of the breeze, etc. etc. One could go on forever
listing things for which to be grateful.
Yet, surrounded by this beauty and
love, we often rush through our busy-busy day neglecting to be grateful for it
all. How often do we go past a beautiful bush of frangipani (or lilacs, or
roses) and give thanks for their colorful beauty and aroma? How often do we lift
our head to the sky, and give thanks and praise for the life and energy provided
by our sun? Do we take these things so much for granted that we don't even see
them anymore?
Do we take for granted our modern
paraphernalia such as telephones, flush toilets, computers, fax machines,
televisions, refrigerators, etc. How often do we stop and feel gratefulness for
having an "ice-box" that does not require our lugging blocks of ice to it in
order to keep vegetables fresh? Do we stop and think of the wonderful avenues
that telephones, fax machines, computers, and the internet open up to us? All
these things have become an integral part of our lives. Do we appreciate them?
Or do we take them for granted?
And what about our cars? Do we feel
and express appreciation for the transportation and ease they provide? Do we
remember to thank our human vehicle, our body? Do we appreciate the physical
body that carries us through this lifetime -- do we treat it with respect and
love? Do we give it the best attention and care? Do we feed it the best foods so
that it may continue to serve us well? Or do we push it to the extreme of its
limits, feed it improperly, fail to give it rest, and then wonder why it starts
stalling and "bucking"?
Are we grateful for the job we have,
the clients that come to us, the money that we receive? Do we truly feel and
express appreciation, or do we take it all in stride and feel it is our
due... True, all these blessings are our "due" as children of a Divine Creator,
yet it is also our duty to express thanks. It is our duty to express our
gratitude not only through words, but also through works. Do we give back to the
Universe for the many blessings it bestows on us? Do we share? Do we
love?
The action of giving thanks, the
attitude of gratefulness, is one of the keys to creating the life you want. When
Jesus put into practice his teaching -- "Ask and ye shall receive that your
joy may be full" -- he immediately gave thanks. He did
not wait for the event to manifest, but rather gave thanks before the result was
visible. This denoted complete trust and faith. (John 16:24)
We have many instances in our life
where we exhibit lack of trust and faith in the Universe, and in the people
around us. Take for example, a situation where you ask your spouse or children
to do something. If you keep repeating your request throughout the day,
obviously you are not trusting that they will remember and provide what it is
you have asked for. You are doubting.
When we ask for something in our lives, we
need to give thanks and feel gratefulness even before we have the "proof". If we
are seeking new employment, we need to have complete confidence in its
manifestation and give thanks for the new livelihood and new opportunities
opening to us. If we are praying for healing, we must give thanks and have faith
in the manifestation of that healing. We have to believe and be grateful before
the healing takes place. Anything other than that attitude, simply denotes a
lack of faith in the Universe.
The Universe has been described as a
big "YES". It agrees with all our beliefs. So if your real belief is that you
will not get what you are asking for, then the Universe says YES, and you indeed
do not get what you are asking for. Maybe we need to remember that Jesus not
only said "Ask and ye shall receive" but also "If ye have faith, and
doubt not...it shall be done" (Matthew. 21:21) Since we create and
attract that which we believe, if we speak of not having enough, that is what we
will find in our day to day reality -- not only today but in the days to
come.
Remember the Universe will agree with
you, and give you more of the same. This is why it is important to be grateful
for what we have, even when we feel it is "not enough", because gratitude opens
the door to more coming in.
Whether we are grateful for material things, or for
love in our life, the gratitude acts like a magnet. 'Like attracts like' applies
to gratitude as well. Not only will we attract more of what we are grateful for,
but we will attract gratitude from others also. The more you express love, the
more love you receive. (I'm speaking of love, not
martyrdom.)
Be truly grateful for the
opportunities open to you, and give thanks for everything that is manifesting in
your life, always trusting in the perfect manifestation for the Highest Good of
all concerned. Happy Thanksgiving, today and every day!
Recommended book:
Count Your Blessings: The Healing Power of Gratitude and Love
by John F. Demartini.
Dr. John F. Demartini reveals the connection between health and state
of mind. The old adage about making the most of what you’ve got forms
the basis of 25 principles that will help you to live a healthy and
fulfilling life.
For More Info or to Order This Book.
 About The Author
Marie
T. Russell is the founder of InnerSelf Magazine (founded 1985). She also
produced and hosted a weekly South Florida radio broadcast, Inner Power, from
1992-1995 which focused on themes such as self-esteem, personal growth, and
well-being. Her articles focus on transformation and reconnecting with our own
inner source of joy and creativity.
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