360 Degree Gratitude

“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” – Brother David Steindl-Rast

When going through difficulties, it seems unauthentic to “fake” it, to experience and share joy. Almost as if we are cheating on misery if we don’t give it our full effort. But it is precisely in our ability to muster gratitude for what we have amidst dry times that we find an oasis, if not merely a cup of water that sustains us through to times of plenty. For life is a circle of beautiful and bland, plenty and want, as we unfold and unfurl into a full and genuine being.

We all have our theories of what should be, how things should go. And then reality hits and our theories don’t play out in practice. Faith must be walked out during the tough times to be true and real, to pass the test.

If you find yourself in times of want, hold on and be grateful enough to uncover joy mixed in the angst. If you find yourself in times of plenty, be especially grateful and share your blessings to lighten the load for those in want. Each one of us carries our own burdens beyond our smiles and when we find the oneness of our humanity, the load lightens. Plenty is abundant and deep and want is scarce and fleeting.

Embrace and be grateful for all 360 degrees of each day.