Gratitude
Creates Abundance
“Gratitude
can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and
change ordinary opportunities into blessings. Gratitude can transform what we
have into more than enough. Gratitude creates abundance.”
William
Arthur Ward
One
thing the war in Ukraine is teaching Americans is gratitude. Sounds like a
paradox—we’re not grateful for war but seeing the terrifying conditions war
causes gives us grateful hearts that we are safe. It also causes us mental and
emotional anguish to watch helplessly as Russian forces destroy apartment buildings
full of people. I am pretty sure the Russian soldiers feel horrible about what
they are doing too. You can’t wreak havoc on other human beings without polluting
your own soul.
Recently
I’ve heard a lot of people speaking gratitude for the simple things of life—sitting
down with their family for a meal, tucking their children into bed, taking the
dog for a walk. While we ache for the pain and suffering of the Ukrainians, we
simultaneously feel so thankful for the relative peace of our own lives. Seeing
the multitude who’ve crossed the border into Poland packed into shelters—almost
body to body—makes us thankful for privacy and freedom. Observing the exhausted,
worried, scared, lost expressions on the faces of children causes us to hurt
for them, and at the same time, feel grateful for the security of our homes and
neighborhoods. We now recognize the extent of our own abundance more than ever.
At least, I pray we do.
War
changes us—not just the people in the war zone, but those far flung whose
hearts break watching what is happening to innocent people. All those who are
caught up in the war will never be the same again. Whether young or old, they
will be traumatized for the rest of their days. Some of them will go on to make
solid lives despite the damage, and some will be forever crushed. Russian
soldiers will also pay a price for blindly following orders because they will
forever have the blood of innocent people on their hands. That changes people
in ways we can’t even imagine. War is a no-win endeavor—everyone loses.
Daily,
we give thanks for our own safety, and pray for the people of Ukraine. Daily,
we know our own abundance, and want to share it. Gratitude makes us kinder,
softer, and more human. The only gift of war is a broken heart. But that is
sufficient to allow the light of compassion to flow in and the generosity of
heart to flow out. May it be so.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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