A gentle reminder to count your blessings.
I recently rediscovered the connection between gratitude and grace. The Latin word gratus serves as the stem for both concepts and suggests that, in some way, thankfulness is always connected to our experience of grace. This is why we often refer to the evening meal prayer as “saying grace”.
We live in a world where we often miss the blessings that are right in front of us. We sometimes
don’t even acknowledge that the important things we have are gifts we can be grateful for. This is because in a reactive world, we tend not to realise that we have received a blessing (especially if we
have not ‘earned’ it).
As part of my faith journey, I try to respond to the grace I receive by being grateful.
Be Grateful
Saint Ignatius, priest and theologian, developed the Daily Examen. The Daily Examen is a morning prayer rhythm with which you can start your day. It is in the second movement of this prayer that you review your day with gratitude – such a meaningful way to start each day.
In his book, Soul Keeping, author, speaker, and pastor John Ortberg says that our attitude towards gratitude influences our mood. He suggests that we test this theory: start your day by being negative towards everyone you meet and by complaining about all that you can. The next day, start by being positive and recognising all you can be grateful for. At the end of day two, compare the difference in your mood and the way you feel.
Maybe try starting with gratitude next time you meet someone …
An unknown author described the link between grace and gratitude in spiritual practice as a dance,
an attitude and an emotion. The author wrote:
Together they transform how we view ourselves: not isolated actors struggling alone but beloved
participants in an unfolding divine story.
A life of soulfulness is to be aware of the gift of life, to know what you are grateful for, and to
respond to your blessings, simply yet deliberately. Soulfulness is to constantly be aware of grace and
respond with gratitude.
Count your blessings
So, let’s count our blessings as Irving Berlin sings in his song “Count Your Blessings” … “When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep. And I fall asleep counting my blessings.”
Grace and gratitude, together they transform how we view ourselves: not isolated actors struggling alone but beloved participants in an unfolding divine story.
I again realised that:
– Grace connects us all
– Important things in life are often free
– I should focus more on being grateful
– I need to be more deliberate and consider what I what I have been blessed with
REFLECT
Think about the blessings that you have in life, and pause for a few moments. Write down everything that you can be grateful for, or share them with somebody. How do you feel about
this? How can this influence your mood?
RESPOND
Write a note to someone you are grateful for, or keep a gratitude diary for the next month. Start every morning with a short prayer about what you are grateful for. Count your blessings in the evening before you go to sleep.
Try this:
Next time you meet someone, try starting the conversation with a word of gratitude.
Let’s count our blessings!
Please share your creative stories or soulful ideas with me at andre@besoulful.co.za.
If you want to schedule a retreat day for a small group, let me know!