A Full and Thankful Heart
Dear Friends in Christ,
On this special day set aside for giving thanks I want to share a few words from the writings of Bill Wilson (a.k.a. “Bill W.”), co-founder of the God-inspired program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Bill W.’s life of gratitude, giving thanks and living to good purpose for the sake of others continues to have immense impact on my life and the lives of countless others.
Below is one of his brief reflections on the topic of gratitude/thanksgiving.
One exercise that I practice is to try for a full inventory of my blessings and then for a right acceptance of the many gifts that are mine—both temporal and spiritual. Here I try to achieve a state of joyful gratitude. When such a brand of gratitude is repeatedly affirmed and pondered, it can finally displace the natural tendency to congratulate myself on whatever progress I may have been enabled to make in some areas of living.
I try hard to hold fast to the truth that a full and thankful heart cannot entertain great conceits. When brimming with gratitude, one’s heartbeat must surely result in outgoing love, the finest emotion that we can ever know. ~As Bill Sees It, pg 37
Wherever, however and with whomever you choose to spend Thanksgiving Day, I pray you will do so with a full and thankful heart.
Finally, click here for a brief 4-minute video featuring poet David Whyte giving thanks for blessings received.
Happy Thanksgiving!
~Brother Rex
~Saint Francis, pray for us. Saint Clare, pray for us. Bill Wilson, pray for us.