| Cicero,
a Roman orator, had this to say about gratitude: "Gratitude
is the greatest of all virtues and the parent of all other
virtues." When my daughter, Mila, was in junior high
school, she kept a notebook of sayings. Here is one of
her favorites:
The
World Is Mine
Today,
upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair.
I envied her, she seemed so gay, and I wished I were as
fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down
the aisle.
She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed.a
smile.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine; I have two feet, the
world is mine!
I stopped to buy some sweets
The lad who sold them had such charm
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it would do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me, "Thank you, you've been
so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see," he said,"I'm
blind."
Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes, the
world is mine!
Later, while walking down the street, I saw a child with
eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play; it seemed he knew
not what to do.
I stopped for a moment and then I said, "Why don't you
join the others dear?"
He looked straight ahead, without a word, and then I knew---he
could not hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two ears, the
world is mine!
With feet to take me where I would go, with eyes to see
the sunset's glow,
With ears to hear what I would know,
Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I am blessed indeed,
the world is mine! (Red Foley)
The
dictionary says gratitude is being thankful. Having an
"attitude of gratitude" is the subject of many fine sermons.
How can we demonstrate our gratitude? How about saying,
"Thank you" (with a smile)? How about doing random acts
of kindness? How about spreading joy around? How about
fasting until we remember to bless our food?
 Ask
ourselves what we would want to have with us if we were
stranded on an island and could only have one book? (For
me, it would be my Scriptures.) If we could only have
one other person, with us, who would it be? (Our mates?)
If we could eat only one food, what would we prefer? If
we could wear only one outfit, which would it be? And
how much gratitude do we show for these right now, today?
Do we get on our knees every night and thank God for all
He has given us? If not, why not?
The
atonement of Jesus Christ is the gift we should be most
grateful for. That supreme act of sacrifice makes all
of our other blessings possible. "Thank you God,
the world is mine!"
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