The Power of a Thankful Heart (Part 2)

Welcome Back to the Turn-Up Patch and Part 2 of "The Power of a Thankful Heart".  I am glad that you were able to join me in reflecting on the importance of thankfulness in our lives.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.

Gratitude is...

a springboard to Hope

a lifeline in Faith

a leaven in Love

a gateway to Worship

                      -  Gratitude is a destroyer of negativity and a protection against spiritual heart failure.

                        -  Gratitude is a power to keep you from being carried away in fear and anxiety.

                        -  Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don't.

                        -  Gratitude keeps our hearts open and counteracts negativity and discouragement.

     
Thanksgiving is Thanks-Living 

Being thankful is healthy!  Research has shown that people who are thankful are happier and healthier. Some beneficial effects on the brain and the body:
                          -  experience a stronger immune system
                          -  maintaining healthier relationships; connects you with other people
                          -  have higher levels of enthusiasm, alertness, energy and determination
                          -  enjoy better sleep quality and longer duration of sleep
                          -  reduces risk of cardiovascular disease and depression
                          -  can cope better with stress and leads to a longer life

If the only prayer you say in your life is 'Thank You', that would suffice....  Meister Eckhart

- To say that we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great... it just means we
are AWARE OF OUR BLESSINGS.

- Being grateful is not talking about being thankful for  the "everything" that happens, but being thankful   
in spite of the "everything" that happens.  It changes the dynamics in how one feels in bad times and moves you to a greater joy in good times.   
- A grateful heart experiences Divine relationship.  This is the essence of gratitude in its purest form.  It is  
an example of Psalm 46:10..... "Be still and know that I AM GOD".

As an expression of Gratitude, may I suggest to you that before going to bed at night or first thing in the morning, write down 3 things (ordinary or extraordinary) that you are thankful for during that particular day for an extended period of time.  Studies reveal that those who continue this exercise even for one week straight can increase their happiness level.   I began doing this a short time ago and have personally discovered  more awareness of the simple daily things in my life that are blessings that I took for granted.

I would like to share with you a huge blessing, which happened the first of October in the photography sense.  We had some freezing night temperatures and the water sprinklers had been left on which produced ice in the fields where the water hit.  When I spotted the scene, I grabbed my camera before the morning sun had a chance to melt the ice.  The combination of pasture grass, weeds, fence posts, wire and wheel-line pipes made a dazzling display of God's elements of  water, sunlight and freezing temperatures.  The following PhotoShow cannot compare to the actual visual of this beautiful sight.  

I would encourage you to view in full screen to see the details of  "ice artistry" in its amazing creation.  When finished, you can hit the escape button to get out of the full screen image.
You can also view at this link:  http://www.photoshow.com/watch/nE3Nd3hT

Join me next Monday, December 10 and let's see what "turns up" for my next post.

"Beauty is everywhere, but one may see the beautiful view and the other sees a dirty window. You have the power within you to choose what you see, what you think".... Leanne Cadden