According to legend, a young man roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher.
After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.
Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container. The student challenged his teacher: "Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?"
The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The
water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and
nothing could be sweeter."
"The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see." Robert Holden
To the mature Christian there is truth in Holden's statement. To the child, who does not see the idea within the gift, gratitude is only what is embodied within the gift. Gifts from the heart are not often recognized by children.
In our family we had a little joke to cover the gift that essentially fell short of the mark. "Thank goodness it's only the thought that counts," we would say. As children we offered gifts of genuine love, even though we had little to give. A gift certificate for a peanut butter sandwich for example.
As children we anticipated opening a gift on Christmas morning with great expectation. Disappointment sometimes resulted. As adults we open that gift with a deeper appreciation of the giver.
I will always remember the most profound gift I ever received at Christmas. It was a picture of a dream gift which the giver could not afford to give me. It was indeed the thought that counted. I am grateful for the imagination and love that inspired that gift.
How grateful are we to God for all the gifts of creation we receive with every morning's sunrise? Here are ten significant things I am grateful for in life - not in that order.
These were the first thoughts that came to mind: smiles, humour, variety, love, clouds, rain, dreams, chocolate, spirituality, and grandchildren. On second thought, add music. These will get you through anything.
One person smiled at me today, and I smiled at the next twenty or so people. If half of these persons smiled at the people they metyou do the Math.
