Expressing Gratitude

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~ Albert Einstein

Words of Thanks and the Power of Gratitude
by Laurie E. Smith

Each night at the dinner table, our family has a tradition. We each take turns expressing what we are thankful for that day. After each person has taken a turn, we say, "Thank you God for all these things" and then begin our meal.

Often our "thank yous" are what you might expect. We express gratitude for each other, our health, our home, and on and on. Every once in a while our four-year- old son pipes up with a "thank you" that puts it all into perspective — like saying "thank you" for a favorite toy he played with all that day, or all the people who pick up trash to help Mother Earth, or "the way the sun looks in the fog so it looks, like a rainbow."

During this time, I notice myself getting happier, quieter, and more peaceful. Expressing gratitude puts us into a state in which we are more available to receive miracles or blessings from the Universe. I know when I give someone a gift, I love to hear those two little words — "thank you!" The more emotional, heartfelt and genuine the recipient is with the thanks, the more I want to give to that person — again and again.

Becoming a Gratitude Magnet
Gratitude allows us to communicate directly with the Energy around us that gives. I believe it is as if it hears and responds, as if to say, "Oh! This is the kind of stuff she likes! Then let's give her more!"

But, I believe gratitude is about more than that. Living a miraculous life, I believe, isn't so much about the big stuff we gain, but how many little miraculous moments we can experience where we truly understand and appreciate the miracle of everyday. When we stop and express gratitude, we allow an opening in our lives and our hearts through which this miraculous energy — the love all around us — enters our hearts and our lives.

Sometimes, the very act of saying "thank you" creates a new miraculous moment. When I am sitting at the dinner table watching my son wiggle in his seat, the sun casting light over our meal, and see the spark in his eye when he thinks of something he truly is thankful for, I feel as if I am witnessing the greatest miracle of all.






How do you and your family express gratitude? Share with the rest of us!