In the Gratitude Effect by John Demartini we are introduced to the concept of having gratitude for everything in our lives. Here the author begins to challenge us as to what we define as everything. To be in the state of true gratitude means that appreciation must be seen in all things that happen. Yes that means in all the bad that happens as well.  We tend to have gratitude based on our value system . If those around us share the same common values then it is much easier to be appreciative of them than it is to be of one who is causing you harm or pain. We tend to reject or distance ourselves from those  people or situations.

“Our spirituality is expressed through the hierarchy of our values,”  he says , “and this is as unique as our own fingerprints.” They are based on our experiences . Because of our uniqueness anything that supports our values, we label  “good,” anything that challenges our values we label as ” bad” .So how do you have gratitude for something that you may label as ‘ bad” you ask. Well this is the true challenge.  He is definitely presenting us here with the keys to really living a fulfilling and happy Life. Once we can master this and incorporate this way of being into our lives I don’t think we would have very many unhappy moments.  As a matter of fact it would be a very peaceful life perhaps contrary to what some of us experience on a daily basis.  To see with the eyes of gratitude is to become  ‘”the   observer;”   where you allow for each person to be exactly who they are and every circumstance that is happening in the moment to be perfectly in divine order.  This is true peace , true gratitude.

Think of all the famous people known for this quality,  Mother Theresa,  Gandhi,  Martin Luther King, Jesus and so on. How did they apply this principle in their lives.  We could observe this both in their words and in their actions. What was also present was a strong faith that there was a greater force at work in all circumstances and this is what allowed them to be in the grace of gratitude even when the worst was going on.  The following quote by Patrick Overton sums it all up for me.

When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the                

      darkness of the unknown,  Faith is knowing one of two things will happen:  there will be something

      solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”

Having faith is having gratitude for the good, the bad and the ugly.

Maria Jacques