It’s been a custom around many a Thanksgiving meal I’ve been at to follow it with each person present naming one thing he or she is grateful for. Though such exercise need not be relegated only to Thanksgiving, that day in particular seems lacking if nothing happens.<\/p>\n
And it need not be just a word, but a sentence, or a paragraph, expounding on that word.<\/p>\n
Or if one word is too hard, find ten. Ten little things you’re thankful for. Since breakfast!<\/p>\n
It shouldn’t be hard. And if it is, it’s all the more reason to practice.<\/p>\n
Happiness and gratitude have everything to do with each other.The happier a person is, the more likely he’s going to be grateful. And the more grateful, the happier.<\/p>\n
Gratitude expressed completes the circle. Unexpressed, there’s something still unfinished. Possibly painfully so.<\/p>\n
Even the Lord, the giver of all, feels the lack. The story goes where ten lepers called out for healing from their quarantined distance. Jesus merely told them to go to the priests. (It was the priests who would pronounce a leper \u201cclean\u201d and fit again for society.) They all went off, experiencing their healings along the way. Only one returned\u2014the non-Jew (having no priest?) thanking and deeply praising God for his newness of life. Jesus wondered at the thoughtlessness of other nine.*<\/p>\n
Like I said, without the thanks, the good that’s been done is not quite complete.<\/p>\n
So when you pray, open your eyes, and give thanks for everything you see.<\/p>\n
It only follows: You will have a happy day.<\/p>\n
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