November 29, 2024. The act of gratitude is a necessity for your spiritual growth. This is not only the act of being grateful for only things received...

 Beloved,

November is the month of Thanksgiving. 

The act of gratitude is a necessity for your spiritual growth. This is not  only the act of being grateful for only things received, but the act of being grateful for conditions, events and difficult problems, conditions through  which you advance spiritually.

Why be grateful for problems?

Once there was  a young boy whose family was very poor and he had no shoes. He said to himself he must work hard  so he will be rich one day to have good shoes. Through odd jobs, he had enough money to buy polish for shoes, and he went to the city to polish shoes for people. He was so dedicated to his job that one day  a banker liked him and offered him a job. Through the years he became rich and gave  many good shoes to children, not  only shoes, but money for education and medical help. In his old age he realized  how his poverty had helped him be all  he wanted to be. If he was born in wealth, he would have missed many lessons along the way.

  He understood that  the greatest gift from God  was not poverty or riches, but his life with all its problems, events and situations.

Every situation will be welcomed, because it will be for your learning.

Another story. This is about Dale Carnegie, the best author of so many beautiful books. 

Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) described himself as a "simple country boy" from Missouri but was also a pioneer of the self-improvement genre. Since the 1936 publication of his first books, "How to Win Friends and Influence People", and " How to Stop Worrying and Start Living", he has touched millions of readers and his classic works continue to impact lives to this day. He was born and brought up on a Missouri farm.Like most farmers of that day, his parents were pretty poor. He walked a mile to attend a one-room country school, when the snow was so deep and the thermometer dropped to around 28 degrees below zero. He never had any rubbers or overshoes. During the cold winters, his feet were always wet and cold and he never dreamed that anyone  had dry warm feet during the winter. Born in poverty taught him so many lessons.

Be grateful for every situation  in your life. When you are in darkness, light will come. Expect the Good in every situation. Put aside anxiety and fear. The answer will come in proper time and come with blessing.

Love opens your heart and peace settles into your being. To every condition ask what lesson is in it for you. This will put despair at bay.

Dear Jesus,

Please let me know You, and let me know myself. Knowing You, allow me to listen to Your Word, and practice what You teach. Knowing me, to change my path to your righteous one, to have Heaven in my heart, and You will be with me forever.

 May God bless the body and soul of those who read this meditation in my BLOG." Amen.