Gratitude moves us to transform ourselves

“Let us visualize practicing gratitude as a well-crafted testimony of our intentions and aspirations. This is something that can have a strong impact on our individual selves as well as in our society. On a personal level, for example, when we are grateful for the gifts that others have given or shared with us, we create space for better relationships based on mutual support and care. This is also an opportunity for confronting our limitations and for setting the stage for change.

At the societal level, when we practice gratitude, we acknowledge not only the common good within our actions but also the many barriers to realizing a just and loving society. Let me be practical. We cannot be truly grateful for the many contributions made by the immigrant community if we ignore the discrimination and injustices that this community faces.

In both scenarios, personal and communal, gratitude must move us to examine, celebrate, and transform ourselves. I invite you to connect with the inward force that sustains us and to manifest it outwardly by practicing gratitude. This is a courageous act in which we challenge ourselves to creatively explore our life experiences in the company of others.”

— Francisco Burgos, 2021
Executive Director of Pendle Hill

Reader Responses

What are you grateful for?
What gratitude practices do you have?

As a member of a 12 step recovery program for 33 years, it is definitely a daily practice to create a gratitude list each day we are able to do so. To actually write down what I am grateful for, such as dear friends, food to eat, a place to live, people who are willing to listen to me when I need to talk, the strengthening quiet during meeting, etc., demonstrates the interconnectedness of ALL creation and its simple, quiet joy.

David T., Elgin, TX, USA
Our family shares our "gratefuls" at most dinners. We light a candle to remind us and let that glow sort of stay with us. Recently, we've begun buying our grateful candle on family trips so we can keep that family time with us and be reminded.

Nikki R., Buffalo, NY, USA
I maintain a gratitude journal. Each night I record 3 things from my day for which I am grateful. I also have a miracle journal where I record wonders that have happened to me that defy explanation. I have nearly 60 items on that list.

Trudy S. Brighton, MA, USA

This Week’s Messages

Mon Oct 27

A loving way to pray

“When I go up to kiss my sleeping children and linger with them, in quietness and love, that is prayer. There is a wordless unity of God, myself, my children, a sense of gratitude and reverence, awareness of my need for strength, shame for my failings, a promise to try again.” …
Tue Oct 28

Can you feel spiritual gratitude if you don’t believe in God?

“In my religious community, the Quakers, there are many different understandings of God, and some might not even believe in a God, as such. From that perspective, the God in question is an inner experience, the love and connection felt between people, maybe a metaphor which could help me to live a better life. With God within and alongside rather than above, there would be no actual giver for the gift. But I still feel gratitude.” …
Wed Oct 29

Let your gentleness be evident to all

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” …
Thu Oct 30

Engaging in gratitude means engaging with Quaker values

“Gratitude is not, strictly speaking, one of the commonly cited Quaker values. But, when we engage in gratitude, we engage more deeply with the Quaker values we do hold. When we are grateful for the actions or kindnesses of others around us, we are more connected to Community, and more invested in it. When we are grateful for the natural world, we notice and connect to it, and can be more interested its Stewardship. When we stop to be grateful for the roof over our heads, we have awareness and empathy for those without this blessing in their lives and can re-commit ourselves to Service.” …
Fri Oct 31

How to live life as one long thanksgiving

“This way of seeing our Father in everything makes life one long thanksgiving and gives a rest of heart, and, more than that, a gayety of spirit, that is unspeakable.” …
Sat Nov 01

Humility is remembering you are not in charge

“Over the course of my years of Quaker worship I have learned that certain attitudes help me into worship – particularly humility and gratitude. Gratitude is easy; I can think of all that I am thankful for, and that’s probably the best way into worship on a difficult, distracted day. By humility I don’t mean grovelling and feeling awful about myself. It means, simply, remembering that I am not in charge, that I do not know what should happen (either in the meeting or beyond it) and so I am listening intently.” …

Read the source of today’s quote
Banner art by Olive Rush

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Author

  • Francisco Burgos works as Executive Director at Pendle Hill, a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center. Prior joining Pendle Hill, he served as Director of the Center for Community Initiatives at the Monteverde Institute in Monteverde, Costa Rica and as the Head of School at Monteverde Friends School.

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