Brother David Steindl-Rast in his book Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer, says that surprise starts gratefulness in us. He uses the image of a rainbow when we first glimpse it; how surprising it is and how it gives us joy and gratitude. Steindl-Rast offers other examples of striking moments and then he says some surprises are less striking and non-the-less give us joy and gratitude.
I think of times one of my children has called just to say hi, to catch up, to share some news.. Always a bit of a surprise and always makes me happy and grateful. There was a time when I would not have noticed my own gratitude, my own joy in that experience. Not, though, I’m even gratefula dn happy that I am aware of it.
PEACE and LOVEYA,
Ron
Camel Through the Eye 