Grateful to give

“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God”
– Thomas Merton

During an October 2004 interview with Robert Emmons, Ph.D. and author of The Psychology of Gratitude (Oxford University Press, 2004), Emmons recounts his ideas about people like Mother Teresa and others who ‘gave themselves away’ as those having the quality of gratitude.

“They don’t seem to fit the usual conception of gratitude where you see a benefit and then you’re grateful. They felt grateful for the opportunity to help, as opposed to receiving help. They knew there was some benefit for them in developing compassion… the ability to be helpful…created in them a sense of gratitude, a sense of purpose, that they wouldn’t otherwise have had.”

I need that example. Lately I’ve been feeling like I don’t so much want to give away my time anymore; I’ve forgotten momentarily what good comes out of giving in love.

Lord, help me remember.