GRATITUDE

Today my mind turns to gratitude and feelings of appreciation. I remember a prayer that I once read “You have given so much to me. Give me one more thing- a grateful heart” We must continuously express gratitude whenever possible. Too often we take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from the the people we know, to the food we eat, from nature and from a simple smile.

As I look around, I begin to realize more and more a need to cultivate the art of appreciation and gratitude. A simple “ thank you “ can go a long way in bringing people closer together and to form greater bonds of friendship.

 

We are to express our appreciation, sincerely, without the expectation of anything in return. When we truly appreciate those around us we will soonfind many who will surround us.  When we truly appreciate life, we will find that we have more of it.

 

The question I pose; "Do we appreciate what we have and do we show our appreciation to others?"

 

A few months ago, I read about Walter Davis, thirty three years of age, who was divorced from his wife, Barbara. He enlisted the aid of a computer dating service in his search for a new mate. He filled out a lengthy questionnaire in which he provided a great deal of information about himself and about the qualities he sought for in a wife.

 

The computer ran through thirty thousand prospects and then came up with four names. The first name on the list was that of Barbara, his former wife. She had filed a similar form with the same computer dating service.

 

This story is worth pondering; "Why do we not appreciate what we have and only do so after its absence?"

 

This thought is so apropos for all of us today.  Just think, that the first thing we do when we arise in the morning is to utter the beautiful Tefillah “Modeh Ani", expressing a great sense of gratitude for life itself, which Hashem grants us every day.

 

In this week’s Sedrah, Vayetzeh, we read of how Leah, the wife of Yaakov, after giving birth to her fourth son, names him Yehudah. Why? Because הפעם אודה את הדי "This time I will praise Hashem"

 

The Gemara says that Leah had a grateful nature. She took charge of the scepter of gratitude and bequeathed it to her offspring. Leah taught us well the true feeling of profound gratitude to Hashem and to appreciate all that life has to offer us and never, never, to take anything for granted.

 

Through Leah's personality and her strong demeanor, and surely her life of Appreciation, the Jewish People were deemed worthy to be called "Yehudim". Especially, when we realize that in the name יהודים, the ineffable name of G-D,  שם הוי  is reflected as it shines forth on the Jewish People.

Thereby, the destiny of the Jew is forever linked to the Divine Name, a name that bespeaks Gratitude and Appreciation. What a magnificent heritage to be blessed with. All that it entails is that we appreciate what we have and show our gratitude for the blessings of life.

                     .............. מודים אנחנו לך על חיינו המסורים בידך

 

Feelings of despondency continue to overwhelm me as I reflect on the horrific murderous act that took place in a Har Nof Synagogue. We inevitably rise up in desperation and cry out “What is life all about"? In our despondency we find that it is hard for us to move on and it is at that precise moment, our Emunah kicks in  and we say “In spite of it all”, “מודים אנחנו לך.” We gather whatever strength we have and hope that tomorrow will be a better time for K'lal Yisroel because we hold dear the legacy of Mother Leah in expressing our deep gratitude to Hashem.

 

This terrible and frightful awakening experience brought forth greater realizations for our need to cherish the gift of life and to embrace it with more love and compassion, and to forge a greater bond of Achdut with each other, for, סוף כל סוף, all we have is each other.

 

The words of Dovid Hamelech, ring out to us,

הודו להי כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו "Give thanks to Hashem for He is good and His love lasts forever."