Spiritual Awakening: The Gratitude Game!!!
Along the spiritual path as we awaken to what we can become there will be periods of darkness however eve in the dark there will be something that we are grateful for that will propel us toward the light where we will find our true power and our calling. Today (11/25/2021) is Thanksgiving here in the United States and today many will get together with family and friends to celebrate however there will also be many that find themselves alone or separated from their families. Thos that are by themselves or separated from their families may be having a difficult time finding something to be grateful fo so please help to shine a light of hope on them and give them something to be thankful for today and everyday. I was asked what I was grateful for and the first thing I thought of was my brother, Richard, who has helped me tremendously. I then thought of all the people who continue to help me in my quest to help those touched by cancer by visiting http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg2022 and make donations. I am also grateful for the many opportunities that I have had to use my talents for good by being of service and value to others. I am grateful that I have been able to take action and accomplish some good things in my life such as being a published author with chapters in Sources Of Wisdom Book 2 and Sources of Wisdom Book 3, being named the Munford C. Johnson Community Service Award Winner, being a recipient of and American Cancer Society Hope Award, being named one of the top 5 Jaycees in America, and most importantly being able to have a positive impact on the people I come in contact with each day. Now is a great. time to play the gratitude game and journal each day about something you are grateful for and how it makes you feel.
As I continue to awaken spiritually I begin to understand the importance of focusing on the good that is happening in my life as opposed to the bad that may pop up from time to time. Over the last few weeks I was consumed by some negative things that happened in my life and couldn’t seem to shake them until I sat in meditation and began to release the events and remember that there is more good in my life than bad and that I have the power to make changes so that I am surrounded by positivity thus allowing me to to have a grateful heart. The key to spiritual growth is having a grateful heart and having the ability to fully comprehend the concept that if GOD brought you to it GOD will bring you through it. Many time we say things are happening to us when in reality they are happening for us. The hardships that may enter into our lives are placed there by GOD to teach us lessons and to make us stronger. Sometimes all it takes to change the way things are going is to play the gratitude game and list things that you are grateful for today.
Imagine if each day you chose a few people to say thank you to or show some form of appreciation to how your day might improve. I remember a few years ago when my DAD was still alive we went to Boston Market for Thanksgiving and I gave out thank you cards to the staff. You would have thought I gave them a million dollars. The manager came over and told me that was one of the nicest things someone had done for them and that he appreciated me taking the time to write the cards. I left feeling like I made a positive impact so I decided to write cards to the staff at Starbucks where I frequent and to the Publix employees and anyone who I came in contact with. This has now become part of the gratitude game. Think about it what does it take to say thank you or to write a thank you note or simple get someone a token of your appreciation. Today for thpose having Thanksgiving with their friends and family take a moment to thank the host and those who have allowed you to have a joyous moment.
Today is a day to start a whole new level of gratitude as we show thanks for what we have and rejoice in a day that the lord hath made so that we can be glad in it knowing that we are divine children of GOD and GOD will bless us as we stay thankful.
