Gratitude is like a beam of light; it shines through the darkest of darks and pierces the gloom of material existence. And gratitude, born of Love, God, leads to real happiness. It holds up a brilliant, strong standard and guides thought toward comfort and peace.
Like many of us, I have known times when gratitude was the light that broke through a fog of sadness, illness, or fear and demanded that I make spiritual progress. Some years ago I was going through a significant life challenge. With two young children to care for, having to move from my home, and a marital separation going on, I felt stuck in circumstances that seemed impossibly difficult. As a result, I was indulging in some serious self-pity. I was trying to be grateful for the good things I had “left” in my life, but I wasn’t very invested in that activity.
After several weeks of despondency and feeling sorry for myself, a loving friend offered kind comfort, but also had the spiritual chutzpah to talk to me straight. She looked me right in the eye and said, “Honey—you’ve gotta stop this. Wake up and get some real gratitude.”
