Gratitude is the Attitude

Reflections

This is the day the Lord has made,

let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess. 1:16)

May the passions of lust, anger, greed, pride, and 

attachment depart from me. O Lord, I come to

seek Thy shelter: Bless me with thy grace. (Sikh Prayer)

Scripture Reading

The primary spiritual weakness of human beings is 

their lack of constant, heartfelt gratitude directed

toward the Source of and Goal of the universe.

The history of humanity testifies clearly to this fundamental

thanklessness. Persons commit vast amounts of energy

to acquiring and enjoying the abundant goods of

earthly life, without making serious efforts to know

and consciously praise the source of life.

At the end time, those asleep in death will

suddenly awaken, and the secrets of every heart and mind

will shine forth, illuminated by the Source of Light

who is intimately acquainted with all souls.

On that infinite day, humanity will recognize its own 

extreme ingratitude, and will humbly know true

gratitude at last. (Quran 100:6-11)

Moment of Reflection

Scripture Reading

Infinite mind-streams flowing throughout beginning less time

have been my mothers and have thus poured forth 

inconceivable tenderness and loving sacrifice for me.

To all these beloved, intimately connected living beings,

who are manifesting as animals, humans, gods, and demons,

I now offer profound gratitude. 

I vow to liberate all of them from their complex and painful

emotional and conceptual bondage.

I vow to struggle for their physical and spiritual

well-being throughout all my future lifetimes.

I vow to bring them all, through the powerful teaching

of the Buddha, into Final Nirvana of non dual emptiness

and bliss. (Budda)

Moment of Reflection

Sermon

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly, they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was zoo apparent they wouldn't make it. Terrified the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We're if for it!" John answered, "I can't. I've never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at 

the table" 'O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'"

If there is one sin that most prevalent today, it is a sin of ingratitude. God does so much for us. Our indebtedness to him is enormous and yet we rarely, at least infrequently offer thanks for what he has done, in fact, most professing Christians don't even offer thanks over their meals much less

offer thanks over all that God does in their lives. We are much like the little boy that is given an orange by a man. The boy's mother asked: "What do you say to the nice man?" The little boy thought and handed the orange back and said, "Peel it."

For a child of God thankfulness is not confined to a day, or a season, it is an attitude that we should have everyday. (Belcher, 2001)

Memory Verse

A thankful person is thankful under 

all circumstances. (Baha'u'llah)

Closing Prayer

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease; 

Take from our souls the strain and strew,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace. (John Greenleaf Whittier)

Belcher, Michael. SermonCentral.com, "An Attitude of Gratitude." Last modified 2001. Accessed November 28, 2012. http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/an-attitude-of-gratitude-michael-belcher-sermon-on-christian-disciplines-41069.asp.