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Gratitude: A Multiplier of Our Good

Dr. Heather Dawn Clark

Dear Ones,

"It seems to me that we often, almost sulkily, reject the good that God offers us because, at the moment, we expected some other good." C.S. Lewis.

This quote by C.S. Lewis reminds me of the often used metaphysical story of the devout man of faith whose house was flooded and refused a raft, a boat and a helicopter because God was going to save him. When he got to heaven, he demanded to know why God had not saved him from the flood. God sadly said, "Who do you think sent you the raft, the boat and the helicopter?"

Sometimes our expectations for a better life cause us to be blind to the good in our lives now. Consider the woman who lives in a nice home but is always disappointed that it wasn't bigger or better. This woman has healthy children and grandchildren but she complains that they live too far away. She is married to a kind man but she wishes he were more romantic. She always feels that her life could have been and could be better. This woman is rejected the present good because she expected some other good.

Sometimes our expectations are more subtle than those of that woman. Sometimes when I have blocked off a couple of hours to do some task — perhaps writing an article for our newsletter — and the phone rings, I may feel a little irritated because the trajectory of my consciousness was heading in a specific direction. But usually the person who is calling me represents a much greater good than the task I had been doing. If I am on my toes spiritually, I will bring all my attention to the caller and let go of the task. When I am not on my toes, I may not be fully present for the caller and then will miss my unexpected good.

The way to get out of this rut of this negative thinking, is to determine to be grateful and joyful no matter what. We can choose gratitude and joy because we are the only thinkers of our thoughts. We are the only ones feeling our feelings.

I love November because we turn to gratitude and focus on how grateful we are for our family, friends, prosperity, health and creativity. This is the time to decide to be master of your consciousness. Decide now, no matter what, you will be grateful. Then gratitude will be your experience when good comes into your life. It will be your experience when gratitude comes in one of its disguises — such as challenge, loss, separation.

I love the teaching of the Science of Mind. Through this teaching, I see clearly how gratitude is a multiplier of our good. As I fill my heart with gratitude for everything in my life, my life reflects back to me more and more good to be grateful for.

Love,
Heather

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