FW: Article: Gratitude and Thanksgiving

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Gratitude and Thanksgiving

by Owen Waters

Gratitude is a key that opens the door to the flow of

unconditional love through your heart. The heartfelt

expression of gratitude, either in words or in thought,

focuses on the plenty that you have rather than anything

that may be missing in your life.

The traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving dates back to

the early pilgrims in Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts in 1621.

As pilgrims, they were inclined to fast and pray for all the

things that they desperately needed.

When Founding Father lin (1706-1790) wrote of

those times, he understood the great value of gratitude. He

said:

" There is a tradition that in the planting of New England, the

first settlers met with many difficulties and hardships, as is

generally the case when a civilized people attempt to

establish themselves in a wilderness country. Being so

piously disposed, they sought relief from heaven by laying

their wants and distresses before the Lord in frequent set

days of fasting and prayer. "

All that praying and fasting, he said, made them " gloomy and

discontented. " Happily, he went on, a farmer " of plain sense "

suggested to the Pilgrim Assembly that instead of continuing

to bother the Lord with their complaints and requests, they

for once thank Him for the blessings they had been given.

For although times were still hard, things were getting better.

Instead of a fast, the farmer suggested, it would be more

fitting to proclaim a day of thanksgiving. His advice was

heeded, and " from that day to this, " as lin said, we have

" every year observed [these] circumstances of public

felicity. "

In the case of the pilgrims, gratitude opened them up to

receiving ever more of the blessings of nature. Prior to that,

their want had been closing down the natural flow of abundance

and making their circumstances seem even harder than they

were.

Giving thanks is the expression of gratitude, and gratitude is

one of the most beautiful secrets in spiritual life.

Gratitude is a form of love, and love is something which flows

from the Creator of the universe through all forms of life and

manifestation. Without love, life in the universe cannot

exist. Love is the universal force of preservation which holds

creation in manifestation.

The Nature of Love

Love is as natural as the universe. By design, there is a

tension between the forces of creation and universal love. It

is this tension which controls the size of the universe,

holding it within its envelope. It is this tension which

regulates the size of an electron's orbit around a nucleus.

Love is the force which retains electrons in their orbits,

making atoms possible and the existence of life as we know it.

You can block love, or you can allow it to flow naturally

through you. Falling in love with another person is an

allowance of the flow of love through your heart. In a world

where everything has the appearance of separateness, it is a

surrender to the underlying unity of all life. It is a place

of apparent vulnerability, a willingness to take the risk

that separation will once again return if that love is later

lost.

When you allow your heart to open to the universe's flow of

love, gratitude comes with that flow. Gratitude for being

alive, for just existing, for just being in the flow of the

adventure of life. Gratitude for the Sun that gives us life.

Gratitude for the Earth that gives us our home in the cosmos.

Gratitude for the people that you love, and for those who

share your journey through life.

Gratitude flows unimpeded from an open heart. When you allow

it, it flows as freely as the sunshine, unobstructed by

judgments or conditions.

*If you enjoyed today's article, forward it to a friend!

They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

This article was written by Owen Waters, author of

" The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness "

Available in hardcover or via immediate download at:

http://www.infinitebeing.com/theshift

AOL users: <a href= " http://www.infinitebeing.com/theshift " > Click here for The

Shift.</a>

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