Gratitude: When Divine Grace Visits…
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Innerspace
Gratitude When Divine Grace Visits…
“Whatever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart – a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water – I accept with joy.” Bhagavad Gita
Gratitude: When Divine Grace Visits: A few days ago, I was browsing through a friend’s online photo album when I came across an incredibly beautiful, auspicious photograph. As I looked closely at the photo of 8 young boys lying in a circle in the monsoon mud, hands in prayer, faces serene, I was struck by the power of the Human Mandala they had created.
Human Mandala of 8 boys with hands in prayer and serene
A Mandala (Sanskrit for circle) can be defined as a prayer-filled, divine, cosmic circle representative of the completion or perfection of creation. The Mandala symbolizes the essence of our full circle journey in life. This life journey opens us to myriad experiences and reminds us to see grace in things and show gratitude.
We all have emotional roller coaster days and face challenges that make us mad, sad, or happy; yet, we have the capacity for gratitude and a shift in attitude. Most of us don’t live in our angry moments. We shift direction, face our shortcomings, ask for forgiveness, and move forward. Perfection isn’t required to have a grateful heart.
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” Denis Waitley
Gratitude When Divine Grace Visits…
A great teacher once said that we should always seek grace in all we do: God’s grace and people’s grace.
Unchanged: Every moment or exchange we have with others can include a measure of grace; the generosity of strangers, the goodwill of people we know and those we don’t, the food we eat and the breath we take… all come from grace.
Every moment or exchange we have with others can include a measure of grace; the generosity of strangers, the goodwill of people we know and those we don’t, the food we eat and the breath we take… all come from grace.
When grace visits the landscape of our hearts, we feel gratitude. Even if we don’t always notice what brings grace into our lives, we should acknowledge our gifts and share our gratitude by showing compassion to ourselves and others, by forgiving each other, and by comforting and helping others.
“Gratitude is a two-fold love – love coming to visit us, and love running out to greet a welcome guest.” Henry Van Dyke
Gratitude When Divine Grace Visits…
True, we don’t often remember to walk in gratitude because the norm is to receive grace and then express our heartfelt gratitude for it. However, the attitude of gratitude is never wasted, especially in these difficult times. What are you grateful for? Who do you need to send a quiet or clear thank-you to? Try it.
When good things happen or when a cherished wish is met, our entire being reverberates with the sweet sensation of joyful, delightful gratitude. Where did the grace come from? Did we stop to pray and say thanks?
I would love to walk in a state of constant gratitude so grace can meet me daily at my door… I pray that whoever crosses my path is touched by divine grace and remembers to embrace their grace, be grateful, and share their delight with others. What form of grace do you pray for?
Photo Credits: Various Mandalas via Wikimedia – Bhavachakra Mandala by Mistvan – self-made copy of PD image, CC BY-SA 4.0, Diwali Rangoli by Dinesh, Tripura Sundari Yatra in PD, Various Mandalas from Pixabay
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Great photos! Do you know about the (YogaVidya.com)edition of the Gita?
I believe we chatted offline on this. I have since apprised myself of the edition you mentioned.
Thanks! 🙂
E
I am stunned by the beauty of your words- the visuals as well as I am an artist. I am grateful that I stumbled upon you today and would like to know if you mind me sharing some of your thoughts in a mandala workshop I am organizing? Who are you?
Namaste, Cathleene
Thanks Cathleene,
You are welcome to share…
Namaste, Eliz
O.K.- just saw your bio on the other side of the page! 🙂
Thank you and come back again… 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, Beautiful post. All the three comments before mine could have been mine, only I don’t have to ask “Who are you” anymore like Cathleene did.
I met you on Twitter and I’m following you now( it’s mutual,you’re following me too on twitter). and I found myself promoting your blog to others, just because I find more people should read and see your blog.
Where do you find all these interesting quotes?
Your blog is a feast for my eyes.
Keep up the good work. I want to start a blog too, but it wouldn’t be like yours, nowhere near.
I just love your Bio/about you also. It is such a special way to tell people who you are.
Greetings, Deana wilmink-Martina (@DeanaMartina)
Eliz says: Many Thanks Deana and I responded via Twitter too!
Wow Deana… Seems like yesterday when we connected on Twitter. Sending you lots of healing light and Holiday Hugs.
🙂
E
Hey, I found your blog while searching on Google. I have a blog on online stock trading. I’ll bookmark your site.
Eliz says: Thank you for your visit Terry!
Thank you for your visit Terry! Do return and leave me feedback.
🙂
A human mandala of children is so beautiful, and feels like a symbol in and of itself! I agree that happiness is a state and not just for anyone in particular. It’s something shared, something given. How beautiful is THAT? 🙂
True… it is shared and more.
An attitude of gratitude is so important, especially in today’s modern world. It’s so easy to focus on the negative and forget to embrace the blessings that we have.
Exactly, and there is enough to go around.
What a beautiful and inspiring post! I love the reminder to appreciate life and the journey we are on. Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to slow down, reflect, and be grateful for the little things around us.
True. Life is hectic enough as it is…
awesome photos and great advice about grace. Its so true. Seek grace in everything.
Yes… It makes a difference.
I appreciate your reminder that gratitude isn’t just for when something good happens. Sometimes it’s simply noticing the people, kindness, and little blessings that are already around us. ❤️
Thank you… I appreciate the feedback
I’ve always believed in the power of gratitude. When we take the time to appreciate what we already have, life feels more content and meaningful. I also believe that when we focus on the blessings in our lives, we become more open to recognizing and welcoming even more blessings.
All true. We need to be open to receiving. Tabula rasa!