When I arrived at work a couple weeks, I followed my usual routine of dragging my feet down the hall, stopping at the reception desk to pick up my mail, saying hello. As I started for my office our receptionist stopped me by saying “Have you heard about Carlos?” I stopped and turned back…”No, what happened?” The receptionist choked up a little. “He won’t be in for a while, his son was killed last night in an accident.”
Needless to say, I also choked up. My poor friend! I could not imagine his grief and my mind shied away from even trying. What could I do when next I saw him to convey how much my heart wept for his loss? Nothing came to mind.
Word has passed quickly thru the company. Carlos is a friend to many here. Gentle, always willing to help and go the extra mile, with a ready, free smile every time you see him. His son was an exceptional young man, much like his father; kind, respectful, counselor to those younger than he, friend to many and hero to his father, mother and little sisters. There was a little pall of shared pain here. Most of us are parents and as everyone knows, parents are not supposed to outlive their children.
I’ve been very busy at my desk, but the thoughts of Carlos and his family intruded on my work these last 2 weeks. I would stop and take a deep breath, stare off into space for a moment and catch my co-workers doing the same. I think that I’ve had an epiphany that causes my heart to ache a little. I have not been grateful for what I have as I should be always. When Carlos did come back to work, we spoke at length about his special son and I cried.
The winter holidays always turn my heart to my family. I love this time of the year, baking comfort foods, warm kitchens, fireplaces (some of us are lucky enough to still have one), children, noise and deep heavy quilts. I want to pick up my family members and stuff them into my purse so I can keep them with me. As a yearling grandparent the feeling is doubled, tripled, quadrupled even. How is it possible to contain so much love and gratitude?
The reality and blessing is that it is not possible. If fact, trying to keep gratitude won't work. Gratitude, like love must be shared in order to be possessed. You may be thankful for blessings, but unless you share that gratitude with the one who blessed you, it becomes greed. In order to be grateful you have to give gratitude.
In his letter to the saints in Colossus, Paul told them “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, …; and be ye thankful… And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God…” What a blessing for being an obedient and grateful servant. Peace. Peace of mind, peace in our hearts, peace to sleep in the dark of night, peace to be able to move forward thru these so frightening and difficult times. Peace because I’m grateful. And of course, in expressing the gratitude for being given peace now I have something more to be grateful about, which I can express and thereby receive a continued blessing of peace. This is a merry-go-round that I should never step away from.
How easy is this…really? Giving thanks? Is it so hard to give thanks each morning and evening to our Maker? Is it so hard really to thank a spouse or child or friend for a small good deed? A kiss, a hug, a smile from a co-worker, work piled 2 feet high on your desk, because that means you’re employed.
On several occasions, I have repeated an experiment that brings home to me just how much I have and eliminates thoughts of what I want and don’t have. I like especially to do this on a chalkboard so that everyone can see and participate. I make a “I’M THANKFUL FOR…”list and we start listing. I always put Capn’ Krunch cereal first, because it makes me smile. I’ve never reached a point where I could stop. I’ve always had to stop for a lack of time. People are doing something similar to this on facebook right now. Try it. Make an "I'm Thankful For" list. I bet you can't finish it. And I promise you that you will smile, you will be more light hearted, you will learn something about yourself and you will receive the additional gift of peace.
Carlos…I weep for your loss, but I thank you for sharing with me. Because of what you have shared, I am more grateful than ever for what I have.
May you have peace because you give gratitude.
Needless to say, I also choked up. My poor friend! I could not imagine his grief and my mind shied away from even trying. What could I do when next I saw him to convey how much my heart wept for his loss? Nothing came to mind.
Word has passed quickly thru the company. Carlos is a friend to many here. Gentle, always willing to help and go the extra mile, with a ready, free smile every time you see him. His son was an exceptional young man, much like his father; kind, respectful, counselor to those younger than he, friend to many and hero to his father, mother and little sisters. There was a little pall of shared pain here. Most of us are parents and as everyone knows, parents are not supposed to outlive their children.
I’ve been very busy at my desk, but the thoughts of Carlos and his family intruded on my work these last 2 weeks. I would stop and take a deep breath, stare off into space for a moment and catch my co-workers doing the same. I think that I’ve had an epiphany that causes my heart to ache a little. I have not been grateful for what I have as I should be always. When Carlos did come back to work, we spoke at length about his special son and I cried.
The winter holidays always turn my heart to my family. I love this time of the year, baking comfort foods, warm kitchens, fireplaces (some of us are lucky enough to still have one), children, noise and deep heavy quilts. I want to pick up my family members and stuff them into my purse so I can keep them with me. As a yearling grandparent the feeling is doubled, tripled, quadrupled even. How is it possible to contain so much love and gratitude?
The reality and blessing is that it is not possible. If fact, trying to keep gratitude won't work. Gratitude, like love must be shared in order to be possessed. You may be thankful for blessings, but unless you share that gratitude with the one who blessed you, it becomes greed. In order to be grateful you have to give gratitude.
In his letter to the saints in Colossus, Paul told them “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, …; and be ye thankful… And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God…” What a blessing for being an obedient and grateful servant. Peace. Peace of mind, peace in our hearts, peace to sleep in the dark of night, peace to be able to move forward thru these so frightening and difficult times. Peace because I’m grateful. And of course, in expressing the gratitude for being given peace now I have something more to be grateful about, which I can express and thereby receive a continued blessing of peace. This is a merry-go-round that I should never step away from.
How easy is this…really? Giving thanks? Is it so hard to give thanks each morning and evening to our Maker? Is it so hard really to thank a spouse or child or friend for a small good deed? A kiss, a hug, a smile from a co-worker, work piled 2 feet high on your desk, because that means you’re employed.
On several occasions, I have repeated an experiment that brings home to me just how much I have and eliminates thoughts of what I want and don’t have. I like especially to do this on a chalkboard so that everyone can see and participate. I make a “I’M THANKFUL FOR…”list and we start listing. I always put Capn’ Krunch cereal first, because it makes me smile. I’ve never reached a point where I could stop. I’ve always had to stop for a lack of time. People are doing something similar to this on facebook right now. Try it. Make an "I'm Thankful For" list. I bet you can't finish it. And I promise you that you will smile, you will be more light hearted, you will learn something about yourself and you will receive the additional gift of peace.
Carlos…I weep for your loss, but I thank you for sharing with me. Because of what you have shared, I am more grateful than ever for what I have.
May you have peace because you give gratitude.
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