Gratitude
These quotes come from the book - The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude - by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
Years ago I had the pleasure of hearing Sarah make a presentation and was profoundly moved by her. I also devoured her book - Simple Abundance - and it became my bible for a while. I even corresponded with her - at the encouragement of one of my students who knew her personally while I was still in the academic world - I was hoping to get her do a retreat for the faculty. But it never worked out. She was in high demand in those days.
I pulled this book out from a stack I was weeding out to donate. As I flipped through the pages, the following quotes caught my attention:
"Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives,
as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice
which secret garden we will tend...
when we choose not to focus
on what is missing from our lives
but are grateful for the abundance that's present -
love, health, family, friends, work,
the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure -
the wasteland of illusion falls away
and we experience Heaven on Earth."
- Sarah Ban Breathnach
"Be ready at all times
for the gifts of God,
and always for new ones."
- Meister Eckhart
"Let us be grateful to people
who make us happy -
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom."
- Marcel Proust
"We learn each day how cultivating gratitude
tills the soil of our souls,
and then how the seeds of simplicity;
order, harmony, beauty, and joy
send their roots deep down into the earth
of everyday existence."
- Sarah B. B.
"Nature has been for me,
for as long as I remember,
a source of solace,
inspiration, adventure,
and delight;
a home, a teacher,
a companion."
- Lorraine Anderson
"The ordinary acts we practice every day
at home are of more importance to the soul
than their simplicity might suggest."
- Thomas Moore
"Walk through the different rooms where you eat,
sleep, and live. Bless the walls, the roof, the windows
and the foundation. Give thanks for your home
exactly as it exists today; sift and sort, simplify,
and bring order to the home you have.
Realize that the home of your dream dwells within."
- Sarah B. B.
"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant,
to enact gratitude is generous and noble,
but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven."
- Johannes A. Gaertner
"Grace is available for each of us every day -
our spiritual daily bread - but we've got to remember
to ask for it with a grateful heart and not worry
about whether there will be enough for tomorrow."
- Sarah B. B.
"God has two dwellings;
one in heaven,
and the other in a meek
and thankful heart."
- Izaak Walton
"Love wholeheartedly,
be surprised,
give thanks and praise -
then you will discover
the fullness of your life."
- Brother David Steindl-Rast
I thought of hearing Brother David in my twenties and thought of so many other quotes in this book that were beautiful. So many reminders to be grateful for every experience in our lives...
Years ago I had the pleasure of hearing Sarah make a presentation and was profoundly moved by her. I also devoured her book - Simple Abundance - and it became my bible for a while. I even corresponded with her - at the encouragement of one of my students who knew her personally while I was still in the academic world - I was hoping to get her do a retreat for the faculty. But it never worked out. She was in high demand in those days.
I pulled this book out from a stack I was weeding out to donate. As I flipped through the pages, the following quotes caught my attention:
"Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives,
as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice
which secret garden we will tend...
when we choose not to focus
on what is missing from our lives
but are grateful for the abundance that's present -
love, health, family, friends, work,
the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure -
the wasteland of illusion falls away
and we experience Heaven on Earth."
- Sarah Ban Breathnach
"Be ready at all times
for the gifts of God,
and always for new ones."
- Meister Eckhart
"Let us be grateful to people
who make us happy -
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom."
- Marcel Proust
"We learn each day how cultivating gratitude
tills the soil of our souls,
and then how the seeds of simplicity;
order, harmony, beauty, and joy
send their roots deep down into the earth
of everyday existence."
- Sarah B. B.
"Nature has been for me,
for as long as I remember,
a source of solace,
inspiration, adventure,
and delight;
a home, a teacher,
a companion."
- Lorraine Anderson
"The ordinary acts we practice every day
at home are of more importance to the soul
than their simplicity might suggest."
- Thomas Moore
"Walk through the different rooms where you eat,
sleep, and live. Bless the walls, the roof, the windows
and the foundation. Give thanks for your home
exactly as it exists today; sift and sort, simplify,
and bring order to the home you have.
Realize that the home of your dream dwells within."
- Sarah B. B.
"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant,
to enact gratitude is generous and noble,
but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven."
- Johannes A. Gaertner
"Grace is available for each of us every day -
our spiritual daily bread - but we've got to remember
to ask for it with a grateful heart and not worry
about whether there will be enough for tomorrow."
- Sarah B. B.
"God has two dwellings;
one in heaven,
and the other in a meek
and thankful heart."
- Izaak Walton
"Love wholeheartedly,
be surprised,
give thanks and praise -
then you will discover
the fullness of your life."
- Brother David Steindl-Rast
I thought of hearing Brother David in my twenties and thought of so many other quotes in this book that were beautiful. So many reminders to be grateful for every experience in our lives...
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