It was cold today but the sun was out and that is all that matters to me on these end of fall days. I worked outside today for awhile in the gardens and it felt good. I even picked a rose and some fall vines for the perpetual flower vase.

In our faith sharing group today we talked about what we are thankful for, especially the persons we do not express our thanks for. I mentioned the “attitude of gratitude” that I try to view life with. When I have this attitude, even something or a person I do not like can be a blessing.

I mentioned that some years ago I was in the Holy Land making a retreat with a small group. It was my turn to give the homily on a day we were having liturgy at the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus taught us what it means to be a his follower. I said that in the beatitudes, the blessings of poor, those who mourn, peacemakers, there was one beatitude missing. It was something like blessed are the ugly and the difficult for they are beautiful and easy going in the eyes of God. I was thinking about a few family and friends at the time that I cared about but who were hard to get along with. They too I thought could be a blessing if I had an “attitude of gratitude”.

The question is how to get and keep an “attitude of gratitude”. Appreciating love expressed to us in words and deeds is the only way I can think of. For example, the more we can grasp the unconditional love of God for each one of us, no matter what we do, it is one good way to develop an “attitude of gratitude”.

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