FRIDAY: NATURE GRATITUDE

“To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted.”

Theologian and musician Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)

How many times have you found yourself refreshed, restored and rejuvenated by a walk in the forest, by a stream or beside the ocean? Nature is full of invisible forces working for you all the time to create natural rhythms and currents that affect your entire being and soothe your soul.

Consider sunshine for a minute. Do we stop and thank the sun? Or thank God for the sunshine? Sunshine is the most vital source of Vitamin D, which is essential for good health.

What about clean air? As soon as allergy season comes, we realize what a blessing clean air is!

How often do we respect or revere the purity of rain, rivers, snow and other sources of water? Remember, without those, we would all die. There is already a significant shortage of pure drinkable water in the world—appreciate what you have now! Value it and treasure it.

Think of the beauty that surrounds us—the trees, flowers, sunsets, sunrises—all of which soothe our souls and feed our bodies essential nutrients. How often do you stop, look around in awe and wonder, and thank everything you see for bringing such beauty and healing to you? We take it all pretty much for granted, don’t we?

Be grateful for the winds that clean out the pollution we create! Be grateful for animals that bring us joy, comfort, and fascination; trees which give us shelter; bees that pollinate the foods we eat; flowers, plants and herbs that bring us gorgeous scents, color, tastes and amazing healing; the changing seasons and the spectacular colors of fall, and the endless beauty that feeds our soul and fills our hearts.

Without nature, your senses would be very bored!

Even in the concrete jungles we have built, nature has a way of bringing her wisdom to us. Look for the little plants growing out of tiny crevices! Put a plant on your desk at work, or have one inside your home and revere it as your symbol for all nature does for you. Thank the plant, and nature, every day for the oxygen they create and the life forces they bring you.

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