There's a delightful quote I remember from reading Winnie-the-Pooh as a child: "Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude."
Very early on, my mother had me writing--err ... painstakingly composing--my own little hand-printed thank you notes for gifts received from my grandmothers. I still find great Joy in writing thank you notes in particular and expressing Gratitude in general. It evokes the Blessing of sitting at the hearth of my Heart experiencing the embers being fanned into radiant warmth, nurturing a sense of well-being--that indeed all is well and all will be well.
One of my favorite holidays is Thanksgiving as it is a day when I often find myself in our family room in front of the fireplace enjoying a crackling fire with family and friends. I enjoy giving small gifts that are an expression of Gratitude. I notice my "Very Small Heart" becomes quite expanded and my consciousness elevates as I move into Loving Resonance with the person I am thanking for who they are to me. I share from my Heart to their Heart.
Imagine your experience if your intention is to reside in the Spirit of Gratitude throughout this month of Thanksgiving. Can you imagine the cornucopia of Thanksgiving Blessings that would be activated inside of you?
You may be wondering, "How do I do that?"
It's really very simple.
Look for opportunities to share Gratitude with those around you--not only for what they do, but also for who they are to you.
The Trevi Fountain in Rome will be nothing in contrast to the effervescent fountain of Love and Gratitude you'll find inside of you.
Through this immersion in Giving Gratitude, the Sweetness of your Authentic Self, your Essential Nature comes present, and you'll find yourself overflowing with Loving Kindness and Thanksgiving--a state of Grace.
There's a Spiritual Grace Flow in which all of humanity continuously partakes. You receive life through your breath, and as you draw air into your lungs, you are breathing by Spirit's Grace. You can even go so far as to say that Spirit is breathing you. A simple meditation I cherish is closing my eyelids, silently repeating the word "LOVE" on the in breath--and then repeating the word "LOVE" on the out breath ... .
I invite you to follow the rising and the falling of your breath while silently chanting the word, "LOVE."
You'll notice the BIG LOVE of the Universe floods you with LOVING as your "Very Small Heart" beats in Grateful resonance. You are nothing less than the Light and Breath of God in human form.
This wonderful practice of Receiving is a beautiful way to prepare yourself as an instrument of Thanks Giving.
Recently, I shared a Soul Moment with my regular manicurist. During my weekly visit, she spontaneously began to share with me about her sister disappearing while traveling by boat between Vietnam and Thailand 40 years ago during the Vietnam War. She spoke of never knowing what happened to her sister, of the hardships of the war, the hunger, the corruption. I listened from the Stillness as she shared, knowing that I was in a real way, a "priest" hearing a confession of grief and sorrow. My manicure completed as did her sharing, and we parted.
The following week when I arrived at the salon, she greeted me with a big smile and a warm hug as an expression of her Love and Gratitude. I knew something had lifted for her, and I experienced such Gratitude within myself for the opportunity to be an instrument of the Light--to be the Presence of Love in that moment of her release and healing.
I encourage you to experiment during your Thanksgiving holiday by authentically expressing the Gratitude that is present in your already open Heart. Take the hands of someone you Love, look deeply into their eyes, and speak from your Heart.
Go for a walk with a friend and tell them who they are to you. Call someone you care about and express your Love and Gratitude. You'll Bless and be Blessed, sharing a Soul Moment. And in that moment, you'll know the truth of Meister Eckhart's words: "If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is 'thank you,' it will be enough."
Are you wondering what he might have been experiencing when he said those words? Perhaps he knew that when you say "thank you" from a place of Gratitude--by simply being in that state when you express it--you are the one who is being blessed; for in that moment, you are flooded with Spirit's Love and, if you open your eyes, even for just a moment, with the Awareness that you are Divine.
May your Thanksgiving turkey be filled with your favorite stuffing and your Heart be overflowing with Blessings of Gratitude and Love.
Blessings,
Ron & Mary
Attune to the Spirit of the Season! Experience a heartfelt meditation designed to support you in cultivating the consciousness of Gratitude.