A Heart of Gratitude

Rev. Keith Wagner once wrote about an old legend: A man stumbled upon a great red barn after wandering for days through a forest in the dark. He was seeking refuge from the howling winds of a storm. As he entered the barn, his eyes grew accustomed to the dark. To his astonishment, he discovered that this was the barn where the devil kept his storehouse of seeds. These were the seeds that were to be sown in the hearts of humans. The man became curious and lit a match. He began exploring the bins of seeds all around him. He couldn’t help but notice that the great majority of them were labeled, “Seeds of Discouragement.”

About that time one of Satan’s helpers arrived to pick up a load of seeds. The man asked, “Why the abundance of discouragement seeds?” The helper laughed and replied, “Because they are so effective and they take root so quickly.” “Do they grow everywhere?” the man asked. Satan’s helper became very sullen and glared at the man. “No,” He responded. “They seem to have a hard time growing in the heart of a person who is grateful.”

There is no doubt that seeds of discouragement are indeed everywhere. But it also seems to be true that when we reflect even for a short while on our blessings, it is hard to feel discouraged for long.

Today, I call to mind those whom I love and hold dear. I hear the songs of the birds and I feel the cool morning breeze. I remember the smile of a friend, the laughter of my children, and the promises of our faith. And I feel deep gratitude.

The 14th Century Christian Mystic, Meister Eckhart once wrote, “If the only prayer you ever say is ‘thank you,’ that will suffice.”

Our prayer today was written by Ambrose of Milan – sometime in the late fourth century. Let us pray: O Lord God, you are medicine for me when I am sick. You are my strength when I need help. You are life itself when I fear death. you are the way when I long for heaven. You are light when all is dark. You are my food when I need nourishment! Thank you! Amen.