Ultraviolet gratitude

Gratitude can be a struggle, especially when our circumstances weigh us down. What to do?

Bees can help us with gratitude. Bees can see things humans can’t; they can see light in the ultraviolet spectrum. This ability helps them find flowers and nectar.

The practice of gratitude guides humans like ultraviolet vision guides bees. Gratitude reminds us humans with limited vision to seek out truth, beauty and kindness. It doesn’t need to be majestic mountains; meeting a friendly Labrador retriever on the sidewalk is enough. When we make a practice of noticing God’s many gifts of grace to us, we will always have new things to discover. In Southern Ontario right now, the trees are singing God’s praises in a glorious choir of colour. It’s magnificent, even in the rain.

The Henri Nouwen Society sends out a daily email. Back in July 2021, they quote Henri:

Gratitude becomes a quality of our hearts that allows us to live joyfully and peacefully even though our struggles continue.

I’m grateful for writers like Henri, for bees and for trees. What are you grateful for today?

P.S. A few years ago, pre-pandemic even, I wrote a blog about three things a church can always be grateful for that might be useful. Or search my blog for the word gratitude for more posts.