There are so many saying that just don't make sense to me, at least in the context they are used. That is "easy as pie," is a great example. Also among the top, "sleeps like a baby."
Have these people made pie? I suppose in today's world going and buying a pie is easy. Just throw it in the oven to heat it up and you're done. And now days there are pie mixes and pre-made crusts to simplify it. Yet making a true, home cooked pie like Grandma used to make is not easy or simple. Apples need peeled, crust needs made and rolled out, and the perfect amount of spices and thickeners added for the pie to sit up correctly. It is an art.
I also think the person who said, "sleeps like a baby" never had children. My daughter is entering toddler age and still doesn't sleep well, let alone through the night. Or maybe the person that said it was misunderstood and he or she really meant they fought going to bed then woke up every couple hours crying.
What does this have to do with gratitude? I often hear people say, "just be grateful it's not worse", especially in light of all the recent natural disasters that have been uprooting people's lives. It is easy to say that from the outside but that is not what true gratitude is about. It isn't about "should" or "at least". It's not that we can't be grateful for it not being worse; like the pie being easy, it is possible. But gratitude only works at uplifting when it is genuine and felt from the heart.
I'm grateful for ten extra minutes to sleep this morning to catch up from sleeping like a baby the last several nights with my daughter. I'm grateful to have the skills to bake a real pie like my grandma did while also having the resources to go buy one from the store if I choose. I'm grateful for apple pie and the way the scent brings back good memories. I'm grateful for all these things. I feel them.
On a whole different level, I am grateful for my home. I'm grateful to be tucked in the middle of the country, safe from hurricanes. I'm grateful to have the means to send care packages to those that are not so fortunate and while I know I cannot help everyone, I am grateful to do what I can. I'm grateful to inspire my classes to not only brainstorm how they can help but get them excited to send aid however they can. I'm grateful for those people who accept the help graciously and know that we all need help sometimes. I'm grateful for all the strong families out there that can lean on each other during times of struggle and I am immensely grateful for my own strong family.
What are you grateful for today? What depth of your heart is that gratitude resting? Is there something deeper to be grateful for?
May today remind us that, while gratitude is a practice, it is also a feeling. May we open our hearts to the gratitude that truly uplifts our lives. Have a beautiful day!
Have these people made pie? I suppose in today's world going and buying a pie is easy. Just throw it in the oven to heat it up and you're done. And now days there are pie mixes and pre-made crusts to simplify it. Yet making a true, home cooked pie like Grandma used to make is not easy or simple. Apples need peeled, crust needs made and rolled out, and the perfect amount of spices and thickeners added for the pie to sit up correctly. It is an art.
I also think the person who said, "sleeps like a baby" never had children. My daughter is entering toddler age and still doesn't sleep well, let alone through the night. Or maybe the person that said it was misunderstood and he or she really meant they fought going to bed then woke up every couple hours crying.
What does this have to do with gratitude? I often hear people say, "just be grateful it's not worse", especially in light of all the recent natural disasters that have been uprooting people's lives. It is easy to say that from the outside but that is not what true gratitude is about. It isn't about "should" or "at least". It's not that we can't be grateful for it not being worse; like the pie being easy, it is possible. But gratitude only works at uplifting when it is genuine and felt from the heart.
I'm grateful for ten extra minutes to sleep this morning to catch up from sleeping like a baby the last several nights with my daughter. I'm grateful to have the skills to bake a real pie like my grandma did while also having the resources to go buy one from the store if I choose. I'm grateful for apple pie and the way the scent brings back good memories. I'm grateful for all these things. I feel them.
On a whole different level, I am grateful for my home. I'm grateful to be tucked in the middle of the country, safe from hurricanes. I'm grateful to have the means to send care packages to those that are not so fortunate and while I know I cannot help everyone, I am grateful to do what I can. I'm grateful to inspire my classes to not only brainstorm how they can help but get them excited to send aid however they can. I'm grateful for those people who accept the help graciously and know that we all need help sometimes. I'm grateful for all the strong families out there that can lean on each other during times of struggle and I am immensely grateful for my own strong family.
What are you grateful for today? What depth of your heart is that gratitude resting? Is there something deeper to be grateful for?
May today remind us that, while gratitude is a practice, it is also a feeling. May we open our hearts to the gratitude that truly uplifts our lives. Have a beautiful day!
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