Читать книгу Love, God - Deborah J. Simmons-Roslak - Страница 17

“Perhaps nothing helps us make the movement from our little selves to a larger world than remembering God in gratitude. Such a perspective puts God in view in all of life, not just in the moments when life seems easy.”

Henri Nouwen

‘Thank you’ or a derivative of such is available in any form for use by human interaction. Simple enough. Someone extends himself or herself and our response is ‘thank you’. Should someone extend himself or herself a bit more we add ‘so much’ to the end of thank you. Should the extension of kindness show itself in a grander gesture we add emotion and positive body language to our ‘thank you—so much.’ The displayed emotions, positive body language and ‘thank you—so much really’ is registered by giver and receiver in gladness. Both have given and received. Such as it is with thank you.

We are appropriately thankful upon appropriate occasion. We are at the level of appreciation. We appreciate having been appreciated, while others appreciate having been remembered. We have both given and received. We are thankful—for the moment.

While the act of exchanging thank you may resemble the state of gratitude, the pair is actually on opposite ends of a continuum. The act of saying thank you at the very beginning while the state of gratitude, deepening exponentially, as the continuum extends itself within the human experience.

Gratitude on the other end of the spectrum is where we hold our appreciation for a remembrance given, an opportunity to remember and find gratefulness when there is no remembrance at all. We are outside of our need to be remembered because we’ve stepped outside of our little wills and small selves. In deep gratitude, the rain clouds, or sun, small insects and screaming children can be experienced for their Reality. They are simply the pure Love of the Creator, and then, we can experience our reality also. We are simply the Beloved of Love Itself. Thank you doesn’t seem quite enough.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to that which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.”

Colossians 3:15

Take a Moment to Listen:

In the fullness of All there is you were conceived. In the richness that is your inheritance you are swaddled. Reach to touch all that is yours from before even time itself began. You are the heart and joy of the Creator and the Love of existence entirely.

Guided Meditation

What would you like to tell the people in your life who love you? What would you like to say to those in your life who have guided you, prompted you or lifted you up when it was needed? Co-workers, random meetings with people whom you may never meet again might have lifted your spirit, or encouraged you when needed. Does that deserve a heartfelt thank you, or a sanctified prayer of gratitude?

Imagine living in a place where gratefulness comes easily. It floats on the very air that you breathe. In a quiet space, think about how you understand gratitude. Have there been moments in time when you have taken friends, family or co-workers for granted? Of course it didn’t feel that way in the moment, but did the depth of gratitude fill you as you thanked them for their kindness? Have there been times when you might have forgotten or taken for granted the depths of God’s incredible and unconditional love for you?

Breathe in deeply and exhale. Breathe in the gratitude that God holds for your very existence. Allow it fill your lungs, stomach and all of your being. Gratitude breeds sheer joy.

Breathe in the joy that God holds for your existence. Gratitude and joy fills all who are open to the Ultimate Love from which we were all created. As you breathe in that gratitude and joy, so are you able to share the same with every one around you.

Your Thoughts/Experience: