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Many
of you know that my favorite slogan is, "Cultivate an Attitude for
Gratitude!!"
Our
attitude for gratitude molds and shapes our lives. Our spiritual
ancestors understood this, and this is why they offered their daily
sacrifices of Thanksgiving.
The
Psalmist was correct when he noted it is "good for us to give
thanks!!" (Psalm
92)
When
we are successful in the mitzvah to be grateful, we help both
ourselves and others feel the presence of God within their lives.
Our living a life of gratitude firmly anchors our faith.
Whether
we are grateful or not for the daily blessings within our lives is
one of the leading spiritual indicators to our own spiritual
condition.
There
are many ways we can express our thanks:
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Be audibly thankful; say thank you out loud and often; and mean
it!!
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Offer prayers of gratitude on a regular basis: Before you eat,
when you are kissing your children, wearing a warm coat before
going outside in the cold, waking up in the morning, laying down to
sleep, etc.
�
Sing with a grateful heart; particularistic music and
universalistic music; all can inspire.
�
Smile. Live a life with joy and share this joy with others. When
someone gazes upon a smile, they are witnessing God's mirror within
their lives.
�
Be grateful both privately and publically. Never miss an
opportunity to count a blessing, say thank you, and appreciate a
blessing.
We
should try to cultivate our attitude for gratitude in every
circumstance possible. Gratitude should be constant and
habitual.
Be
Thankful:
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For Kindness and Mercy
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For safety and sustenance
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For holiness and faith
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For the wonders of creation and life.
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For truth and justice.
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For Physical and Spiritual health.
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For the evidence of God's wonders in our lives, and God's spirit
within others and ourselves
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For Love
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For all spiritual gifts; wisdom, freedom, free-will,
etc.
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For answering of prayers, and for just listening.
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For everything in our lives.
The
secret to a successful attitude for gratitude is to find
contentment. Daily and constant acknowledgements of thanksgiving
will train the content heart, mind, and soul.
Happy
Thanksgiving!!
-Rabbi
Mitch
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