Gratitude: Appreciating the Gifts of Life

It is all too easy to become absorbed in our problems—the project that stalls, the misunderstanding with a friend, the aches in our bodies, or the grief over what we have lost. Our minds spiral, and before long, anger, frustration, depression, or weariness dominate our lives. These emotions can quietly take the driver’s seat if we let them.

In those times, it is easy to lose sight of the many blessings still present in our lives—including gifts we did nothing to earn but are ours nonetheless. The Psalmist reminds us, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Every sunrise, every breath, every heartbeat is a reminder and an invitation to gratitude.

Take a moment right now to be in ​AWE​. 

Pause. Breathe. Close your eyes. Become Aware of your breath as it moves in and out. 

Feel a sense of gratitude for your breath and the life which it sustains. Wonder at the mystery of it. Appreciate the miracle of just being alive, here and now, in the present. 

Enjoy this moment. 

Now expand your awareness to your surroundings: perhaps a bird singing, the aroma of coffee, the sunlight spilling across the floor, the coolness or warmth of air against your skin. Or, maybe bring to mind a cherished memory of a good time or experience of being loved. Be ​Aware​. Wonder and be grateful. Enjoy it and be at peace. 

Even in our darkest seasons, there is always something—however small—for which to be grateful. There is always a ray of light, no matter how dim. Gratitude becomes the window that lets in the light. It is the doorway that opens our hearts to receive and give love. It is the path that lifts us upward, lightening the burdens we carry and restoring the soul. 

Take time—every day, and in every circumstance—to be grateful. Live in ​AWE​: be ​Aware​, hold a sense of ​Wonder​, and fully Enjoy the gift of being alive. 

• Thomas Merton: “To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything.” (Thoughts in Solitude)

• Meister Eckhart: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ it will be enough.” (Sermons and Treatises)

• Rumi: “Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.” (The Essential Rumi)

• Psalm 136:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (NIV) 

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• St. Francis of Assisi: “It is in the little things, the small blessings, that we find the abundance of God’s love.” (Sayings of St. Francis)

• Rabindranath Tagore: “The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.” (Gitanjali)

• Thich Nhat Hanh: “Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet, finding abundance in each step.” (Peace Is Every Step)

• Philippians 4:11-12: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• St. Basil the Great: “The beauty of creation leads us to give thanks to the Creator.” (Hexaemeron)

• Julian of Norwich: “God made all that is, and all that is reflects His abundant love.” (Revelations of Divine Love)

• Bhagavad Gita 10:41: “Whatever is glorious, beautiful, or mighty is a reflection of My splendor.”

• Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• Henri Nouwen: “Gratitude transforms our relationships, turning ordinary interactions into sacred moments.” (The Return of the Prodigal Son)

• Albert Schweitzer: “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another. Be grateful for those who bring you light.” (Out of My Life and Thought)

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• Thomas Merton: “Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder.” (Thoughts in Solitude)

• Seneca: “Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.” (Letters to Lucilius)

• Tao Te Ching 33: “Those who live with gratitude are truly wise and content.”

• Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” (NIV)

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?

• Meister Eckhart: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ it will be enough.” (Sermons and Treatises) 

• Thich Nhat Hanh: “Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet, finding abundance in each step.” (Peace Is Every Step) 

• Bhagavad Gita 10:41: “Whatever is glorious, beautiful, or mighty is a reflection of My splendor.” 

• Albert Schweitzer: “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another. Be grateful for those who bring you light.” (Out of My Life and Thought) 

• Thomas Merton: “Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder.” (Thoughts in Solitude) 

• Psalm 136:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” (NIV) 

AWE
Aware.  Which quote speaks to you?
Wonder.  Contemplate what this means to you.
Enjoy/Engage/Experience.  What is your next step?