Finding Gratitude

Paige helped me discover gratitude for blessings in whatever journey we may enter; it was an early fall camping trip. We hitched our Nimrod pop-up camper to our little blue Rambler station wagon; we bedded down our two pre- school girls for the trip and headed for Vogel State Park in the North Georgia mountains. We were leaving middle Georgia on a hot September afternoon in heavy traffic, just as 12,001 (approximately) Robins Air Force Base employees were leaving work for home. We were already five hours late departing. Just outside of Macon, GA the camper blew a tire. The jack and tire tools were under the floor of the girls’ makeshift bed in the back of the Rambler. We roused the girls, who not yet had even thought of asking “Are we there yet?”

The latch to the under-compartment was stubborn. Paige walked up behind me, and in her sweet, quiet voice said, “Maybe we can find the blessing in this!” I wiped sweat from pouring down into my eyes; I did not hit her. I am not a violent person. Just before I opened my mouth, to say whatever I was going to say, I discovered it. The spare tire for the Rambler was flat. I stopped. I turned to Paige and said. “Here’s our blessing! If I had not discovered this flat spare tire we would head into the mountains tonight. We do not need it right now, but a flat tire in the mountains, in the dark, would be real trouble.”

We settled down. We regrouped. We had tires fixed for both the camper and car . We left the Goodyear place and went to the air-conditioned, Davis Brothers Cafeteria. We relaxed with a calm, delicious family meal. We even went next door to Shoneys for Fresh Strawberry pie and ice cream. (Did I mention, it was this Shoney’s where I took Paige for Fresh Strawberry pie on our first–kinda—date?) Rested and refreshed, we packed the girls into the Rambler—again. And refreshed, drove into the night and to the mountains. That journey is one of our most memorable, happy journeys. I still thank God for that day.

Almost as if he were giving a prescription for curing ingratitude, Bernard of Clairvaux the 11th century Mystic said:

Ingratitude is the soul’s enemy… Ingratitude is a burning wind that dries up the source of love, the dew of mercy, the streams of grace.“

That’s somewhat like tagging “ingratitude” with the Skull and Crossbones; warning, “deadly! do not enter!” In a more positive vein, it is important to find things for which to be grateful. It is not that difficult. For example, start with your hand; look at your thumbs . Human beings are the only primates that have opposable thumbs. How would you manage without your thumbs? See. Already you have something for which to be grateful!! And. You’ve barely gotten started with gratitude! Miriam Webster describes gratitude as “thankfulness.”

In many of his letters the Apostle Paul said “Be Thankful.” He was specific to say “in all things,” not for all things. He found reasons and ways to be grateful even while in horrible circumstances. The late Rev. Joe Matthews of the Chicago Ecumenical Institute took gratitude to the extreme. He said, “The most important thing you can say in any circumstance is, ‘Thank You.’” Kinda reminds me of that flat tire on the camper.

I like the way Andrae Crouch expresses gratitude;

‘How can I say thanks
For the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved
Yet You gave to prove Your love for me;
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am and ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee”

Gratitude is a choice. It can also be a way of living.