Holiday Gratitude

I love that there is a holiday based on gratitude. It’s such a primary part of any spiritual practice. Most spiritual traditions ask us to acknowledge what we are grateful for in our prayers. There is a holy aspect of gratitude that reminds to never take things for granted in this crazy life.

Thank you God for another meal. And another day to be alive. Thank you God that I woke up again this morning and the sun rose and life goes on much as it ever has- at least for today. Thanks for loved ones present and not present. Thank you for the opportunity to live with my heart open in the tender, crazy roller coaster of life.

And for the all time that humanity as lived in a knife’s edge every day, that is a lot to be thankful for!

The spiritual masters have also taught us that gratitude is a crucial part of the manifesting cycle. When we are truly and sincerely grateful for what we have, we tend to get more of it. Gratitude is the oil in the gears of the Law of Attraction.

Today I feel gratitude as a mushy, soft open heart. Gratitude flows naturally when my heart is open in love. I feel grateful for the blessings of my family, friends and loved ones. For the meaningful work that I do that I love so much. And for the relative peace and harmony that I live in.

And I also feel a tender love for the many who are not in such a good place. For my son who is deployed far away from his loved ones on this day. For those of you who have lost loved ones and therefore feel so bittersweet on the holidays. For all who wonder where the next meal is coming from or who are separated from their people. And my heart goes out to those suffering in anyway -today and every day.

We are imprinted with a picture perfect idea of the happy family all gathered around a food laden table with peace and love in our hearts, or at least apple pie in our bellies and football on the TV.

There can be much pain and suffering when the reality we are living doesn’t match this ideal. Do we feel like a holiday failure when we are scattered and separated? What happens when Aunt Marge gets plastered, mom cries into the stuffing, Uncle Jimmy can’t make it because he just got divorced, Cousin Fred is still incarcerated and Bobby Sue is in the psych ward again.

That sounds like a reality TV show, but I am sure it’s happening for realsies somewhere right now.

I have this mixed bagged emotional experience to the holidays. My own joy and sorrows too. (Miss you buddy…My family always toasts to “Loved ones not present” as part of our tradition.) So the joy is mixed with loss and the empath’s response to the suffering of the world in general.

I can only deal with it by wrapping up the whole bittersweet bundle and feeling grateful for the whole thing.

Thank you God for another meal. And another day to be alive. Thank you God that I woke up again this morning and the sun rose and life goes on much as it ever has- at least for today. Thanks for loved ones present and not present. Thank you for the opportunity to live with my heart open in the tender, crazy roller coaster of life.

And Thanks Be to you all. May you have a blessed, peaceful and heartful day.