Gratitude works its little miracles with everyone, including children.
There's a wonderful story related to the well-known actor, Christopher Reeve.
Right after he was paralysed from his riding accident, his little boy said to his mom,
"Daddy can't move anymore, can he?
"Daddy can't walk anymore, can be?
"Daddy can't talk anymore. But Daddy can still smile."
This child was born with a grateful heart. He views the world through the eyes of gratitude and appreciation.
There are many children who practise gratitude naturally. But will they continue this once they grow up?
Can you imagine how different this world would be in a generation or two if every child were taught the true value of gratitude?
It would be easy for parents to take a few minutes each day to help their children write or say at least 3 things they're grateful for.
As simple as this sound, cultivating an attitude of gratitude through a daily exercise could completely change the course of a child's life.
Let the goal of cultivation gratitude become a family affair.
"Good men and bad men differ radically.
Bad men never appreciate kindness shown to them, but wise men appreciate
and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and
gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but
to others."
-- Budda
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness
of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns
denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It
can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates
a vision for tomorrow."
-- Melody Beattle
"Whatever we are waiting for - peace
of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance -
it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with
an open and grateful heart."
-- Sarah Ban Breathnach
