I’m grateful for gratitude
The spirit people share
To focus on our blessings
Within this moment, here
I’m grateful for fulfillment
In heavens gifts, concede
And turn away from all the junk
The world tells us we need
I’m grateful for our joy
The fruit of gratitude
That everything’s a gift
To share our attitude
But most of all I’m grateful
For a love so true
Of the knowing of the One
That I’m grateful to
Gratitude can
Be transforming
To turn common days
Into thanksgiving
Gratitude can
Cast a new view
To turn routine things
With joy flowing through
Gratitude can
Change things, ordinary
Into great blessings
How extraordinary!
Gratitude can
Be a constant prayer
When we thank our God
For the blessings He shares
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” —William Arthur Ward
Gratitude is the way
That the heart remembers
Thoughts of kindnesses
Loving, glowing embers
Everyday blessings
Cherished interactions
Gifts of surprise
Acts of compassion
We honor and acknowledge
By remembering
Of the many ways
The ripples these acts bring
Through the soul of others
Of sacrifices giving
Of how we have been shaped
By both the dead and living
Gratitude is the way the heart remembers––remembers kindnesses, cherished interactions with others, compassionate actions of strangers, surprise gifts, and everyday blessings. By remembering we honor and acknowledge the many ways in which who and what we are has been shaped by others, both living and dead. ~Robert Emmons
Thank you each so much for your very kind comments!
I write down my thoughts
The fruit of my prayer
Post them to a blog
Thoughts of which to share
The hope within my soul
For Gods’ love to flow through
If I’m truly honest
It feeds my ego too
And what comes back to me
With a click or two
Reflection of Gods’ love
From the heart of you
I am overwhelmed
My soul is truly touched
By your loving kindness
I thank you each so much
Sitting in the sunset
Of this Fathers’ day
Reflecting on the blessings
That have come my way
From those gone before me
Some are here no more
Their sacrifice for me
Love that they out pour
Souls that now surround me
I hope they truly know
That they are my joy
And how I love them so
Oh, what did I do?
To receive this blessed fate
To know that God is good
From these blessings great
A reflection of the light
That my Lord does share
From the source of One
Love beyond compare
So grateful is my heart
May my soul confess
That I live a life
In which I’m truly blessed
I’m thankful to clean dishes
That kept my belly fed
I’m thankful for my housework
A roof over my head
I’m thankful dumping garbage
For blessings overflow
I’m thankful paying taxes
For a job, I go
I’m thankful for the traffic
Because I have a car
I’m thankful for the darkness
So, I can see the stars
I’m thankful for sore muscles
Reminds me I still live
I’m thankful for thoughtless
A practice to forgive
I’m thankful for my enemy
Prayers’ opportunity
I’m thankful in my valleys
For my Lord’s dependency
To be grateful is to recognize
God’s love in everything
For indeed He has
Given us everything
Every breath is love
Every moment, grace
For it brings in Him
Immense grace to embrace
Take nothing for granted
Unresponsive, never
To wonder of awakening
To praise our God forever
For the grateful person
Knows God is good, above
Not only by hearsay
But experience of love
Thomas Merton ~ To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.
An early-morning walk
A blessing for the day
A friend along my side
Is found when I pray
Taking time to stop
Enjoy this moment here
For its now or never
Eternal with a prayer
When I complain
A prayer to rebuff
For gratitude makes
All I have be enough
Gratitude is riches
Complaint is poverty
Oh Lord, here what you bless
Please let my treasure, be
A great celebration
A feast on the menu
With joy blessed by family
For I’ve been there too
All by myself
Alone, feeling blue
A heavy cross’ burden
For I’ve been there too
A day to give thanks
To our Father turn to
We nourish the soul
For I’ve been there too
In joy and sorrows
I am your friend true
The way, eternal
For I am there too
He sits in the shade
This Memorial Day
Vietnam on his hat
And mustache of gray
He stares in the distance
Somewhere else he resides
In memories stain
He’s still wounded inside
A past moments headline
Of lives that were lost
The price of our freedom
He knows the true cost
This days true meaning
In his eyes found deep
A prayer of thanks offered
Let our gratefulness seep
DarylMadden 