Being Grateful

  1          Being Grateful

We are grateful for things that have been done positively in our favor. We feel grateful that somebody helped us.

Interestingly, we even feel grateful for things which could have been done negatively. We feel grateful that somebody has not harmed us; he could have; it was so kind of him.

Feeling grateful is actually a rare event. Often we say that we are grateful yet most of the times we say so as a formality. Often we say these words to please someone but we do not mean it. Feeling grateful at heart is actually a rare event.

Common belief is that feeling grateful is just a way to thanks to someone and it makes others happy. There is another secret which only a few knows. It also does good to the person who feels grateful to others from his heart.

The more grateful we are, the less complaining and grumbling we become. It is a fact. Try it. Complaining and grumbling eat no one but us. Complaining and grumbling at time is must and is unavoidable. They should be done if no choice has been left and when other measures have been failed. But Complaining and grumbling as routine or as habit brings misery. We have everything and still we are not happy with others and others are not happy with us. This is misery.

The trick is to stop Complaining and grumbling as much as possible; once in a few months; fine.

Misery exists with complaints. It is hooked with complaints and with the complaining mind. We think nothing else. At times we even do not like food. It ruins our joy opportunities.

Once complaining habit disappears, misery will disappear.  If misery disappears, joy will appear. But it is not easy. Adopting habit of complaining is easy. It comes naturally. It is a gift of living in a society. Political minds are masters of it. But letting go habit of complaining is not easy. We always have reasons to complain. However, we have to over look these reasons if not always than most of the times.

 What should we do then?

 We should develop the feeling of gratitude in us and allow it to sink deeply within us. We have to concentrate on small things where others helped us. We should be grateful for even the tiniest help we receive from who so ever. We have to ignore where they did not, though they could have. We should not only have feeling of gratitude we should express it to the person who helped; irrespective of the quantity or quality of help.

 This brings some joy to the other person as well. He feels a sense of achievement. There is possibility that in the future he may help others. Now the equation is complete. Someone helped us in something. We, by feeling and expressing gratitude, brought some joy to him.

As a result and in return, immediately, we start feeling much happy. If we feel more, happy, we feel less in conflict, more harmonious, together. Our conscious and subconscious minds work in unity.

 If we feel together, more harmonious, suddenly we feel a certain grace surrounding us. These things function like a chain reaction: one starts the other, the other starts another, and they go on spreading.

Once, ten lepers came to Jesus Christ. They had heard that Christ had great healing powers. They all requested him to cure them. HE was their last hope. They were pleading HIM with tears in eyes. They were tired of the suffering they were facing. They were living a very miserable life. They were deserted even by their families. No one would give them job because of their disease. For food they were dependent on begging; even then they would have to sleep without food many times. They were often chased away or stoned with an allegation that they might spread the disease. They had come to Jesus Christ with huge expectations. It was afternoon by now. Jesus Christ used his heeling power one by one on them. All of them felt warmth and light and as if some power has passed through them. It was a moment when there was peace, joy, and a sense of release. It was a sudden experience. When it was over they knew that the healing has occurred.

When Christ opened his eyes he noticed that only one of them was stood there to thank Him. He looked towards his disciples in surprise and asked: "Where are the other nine?" they had all run away. Disappeared without thanks!

What did Jesus do then, did HE get annoyed, or did HE do complaining and grumbling? He just smiled and got busy in others. Jesus is God. He immediately forgave their behavior of ingratitude and HE did not stop helping others. But what would be the reaction of a human in this condition if he would have healed them. He would have been full of rage. He would be hurt by their ingratitude. He would never help others for free. Have we become so poor that we cannot say thanks to someone who has helped us? Are we so week that we cannot hold a feeling of gratitude towards someone who has changed our life positively?

To be continued.....

COMPOSED BY   PATHAK SIR  @pathaksirbst ( at twitter) OR  avnishpathak18@gmail.com