November 22, 2016: Del Rio News-Herald * OPINION * Letter to the Editor * Now's the time to have an attitude of gratitude

Letter to the Editor,

Attitude of Gratitude

Mrs. Brown and Sra. Blanco greet each other.

Mrs. Brown: Happy Thanksgiving!

Sra. Blanco: ¡Feliz día de acción de gracias!

They sit in their usual park bench in picturesque Greenwood Park across from where they reside in The Roswell Apartments.

Mrs. Brown turns to Sra. Blanco and asks, “Did you know that gratitude is called the rarest flower in the garden of virtues?” 

Sra. Blanco replies: Yes, gratitude is the response of those who humbly and readily acknowledge the good that others have done for them.

Mrs. Brown: And gratitude protects us from thinking that the world always owes us something.   Because not having to struggle for daily survival can pave the path to presumption. 

Sra. Blanco: That’s right because if we have everything we need and want today; why not also tomorrow, and the day after and throughout our life?

          

Mrs. Brown: A cocoon of living in our comfort zone makes us forget that all good things come from God’s providence.  All our talents, time and treasures come from the hand of a loving Father.

Sra. Blanco: To lose sight of this can lead us to think that we are the creators of our life and the authors of our own life story. Whenever we feel overlooked or forgotten we have but to look around us and see all the good God has done for us, and to offer up a prayer to God of gratitude.

Mrs. Brown: It is also healing for body, heart, mind and soul to say thanks to those around us.

          

Sra. Blanco: It is so easy to overlook the things others routinely do for us that we take for granted. Gratitude lets others know they aren’t taken for granted, and it helps keep our own souls humble. Gratitude nourishes the souls of others and it also nourishes our souls as well.

Mrs. Brown: I hope we will always remember to practice the attitude of gratitude, by saying “Thank you” to God and to someone every day.  

Thank you for reading this letter.

Marian Casillas, Ed.D.

Del Rio