Many of you know that my favorite slogan is, "Cultivate an Attitude for Gratitude!!" Our attitude for gratitude molds and shapes our lives. Our spiritual ancestors understood this, and this is why they offered their daily sacrifices of Thanksgiving.
The Psalmist was correct when he noted it is "good for us to give thanks!!" (Psalm 92)
When we are successful in the mitzvah to be grateful, we help both ourselves and others feel the presence of God within their lives. Our living a life of gratitude firmly anchors our faith.
Whether we are grateful or not for the daily blessings within our lives is one of the leading spiritual indicators to our own spiritual condition.
There are many ways we can express our thanks: · Be audibly thankful; say thank you out loud and often; and mean it!! · Offer prayers of gratitude on a regular basis: Before you eat, when you are kissing your children, wearing a warm coat before going outside in the cold, waking up in the morning, laying down to sleep, etc. · Sing with a grateful heart; particularistic music and universalistic music; all can inspire. · Smile. Live a life with joy and share this joy with others. When someone gazes upon a smile, they are witnessing God's mirror within their lives.
· Be grateful both privately and publically. Never miss an opportunity to count a blessing, say thank you, and appreciate a blessing. We should try to cultivate our attitude for gratitude in every circumstance possible. Gratitude should be constant and habitual.
Be Thankful: · For Kindness and Mercy · For safety and sustenance · For holiness and faith · For the wonders of creation and life. · For truth and justice. · For Physical and Spiritual health. · For the evidence of God's wonders in our lives, and God's spirit within others and ourselves · For Love · For all spiritual gifts; wisdom, freedom, free-will, etc. · For answering of prayers, and for just listening. · For everything in our lives.
The secret to a successful attitude for gratitude is to find contentment. Daily and constant acknowledgements of thanksgiving will train the content heart, mind, and soul.
Happy Thanksgiving!! -Rabbi Mitch
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