The Catholic Leader - July 2

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The Catholic Leader, July 2, 2017
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Do you have an attitude of gratitude?
Gold in the dawning sun By Terry Lees
Terry Lees is a member
of the Mount Isa Catholic
parish.
by Terry Lees
ST Paul in the First letter to the
Thessalonians urges us to “in every-
thing give thanks”.
A daily habit that I have developed is to give
thanks to God for all the gifts, grace and bless-
ings so abundantly poured down upon my loved
ones and me.
Every day I count what counts – my blessings.
I have a real sense of how blessed my life is
and an attitude of gratitude is far more prevalent
in me than I can recall from the past.
Living in the now has very real benefits. It is
a joy.
Some people limit their own abilities by con-
sistently thinking negatively.
Life brings setbacks to every person.
Setbacks are a part of life.
If you adopt the attitude that they are only
challenges, you’re more likely to find solutions
quickly.
The key is to transform pain into gain and hurt
into healing. Life is not negative.
It is wonderful.
It is full of joy and laughter. We have a divine
fire within us.
We reach for the stars. We dream of the
infinite.
We have God’s breath in our lungs and God’s
love in our hearts.
To have an attitude of gratitude means to
express thankfulness and appreciation in all areas
of your life, for the big as well as the small.
Master motivator Zig Ziglar was fond of say-
ing: “Of all the ‘attitudes’ we can acquire, surely
the attitude of gratitude is the most important and
by far the most life-changing.”
Author Dan Mager claims that “Gratitude
changes perspective – it can sweep away most
of the petty, day-to-day annoyances on which we
focus so much of our attention – the ‘small stuff’
situations that bring up feelings of impatience,
intolerance, negative judgment, indignation,
anger, or resentment”.
Each day we live is a gift – our loved ones are
gifts from God – the talents, skills and opportu-
nities we are given in life are gifts.
The rising sun, the setting sun, the stars and
moon at night, the birds that sing, the dogs and
cats at play, butterflies, the beauty of flowers, the
green grass, the food we eat – everything is gift
if we just look for it.
It is possible to find something to be grateful
for in every situation.
“Count your garden by the flowers
Never by the leaves that fall;
Count your days by golden hours,
Don’t remember clouds at all.
Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
Count your life by smiles, not tears,
And with joy on every birthday
Count your age by friends, not years.” (Author
unknown)
There is the story of the father who, in trying
to keep his son occupied, cut up a picture of the
world into jigsaw pieces.
He figured it would keep his son busy for
some time and was therefore surprised when,
shortly afterwards, his son brought him the puz-
zle, completed.
“How did you get this puzzle back together so
soon?” the father asked.
His son replied, “Well, Dad, there was a
picture of a man on the other side, so I just put
the man right, and that made the world come out
right!”
Living life with an attitude of gratitude is
another way to “put the man (or woman) right”.
Gratitude is the most powerful meditation of
a lifetime.
Gratitude does come so easily if we allow it.
As you focus on gratitude, you will quickly
find your way home to God.
For as we give gratitude we are in turn blessed
for giving it.
It is a gift for both the giver and the receiver.
When we give gratitude, the value of our life
increases and joy fills our beings.
St Paul teaches us to pray always and in all
circumstances of your life with gratitude in my
heart.
Yes, we have so much to be thankful for every
day.
Yet, do we remember to pause during the day
to say “Thank You, Lord”?
Be grateful for the gift of life and take time to
meditate on the unfailing love of God.
Try it today – it only takes a few moments –
then make it a daily habit.
“In everything give thanks.”
Gracious God, day by day, you enlighten and
enrich our lives by your grace and mercy.
As we embrace your gifts with gratitude, may
your grace and mercy flow through us to shine
your love on all we meet.
Have a golden day and treasure life.
Grateful: “I have a very real sense of how blessed my life is and an attitude of gratitude is far more prevalent in me than I can recall from the past.”