Most of the times in my life when I am overwhelmed with gratitude, I experience simultaneously a sense of the divine Presence. There are other times that it seems as if the Presence gives birth to the gratitude that I feel in my heart. Coming with both are humility, a sense of unworthiness, and a sense of worship for the kindness of the One who comes near. Oh, the wonder of it. Oh, the blessing of it. Living in humble gratitude is the route we take for a deep, abiding joy.
Testimony: Several years ago, I was alone at a very dark time in my life. Rain had stopped the outside job that I was doing. I sat on the porch overlooking the lake as sheets of pouring rain came down like reckless strokes from a painter’s brush. Gratitude swept over my soul like those sheets of rain, bathing everything in sight. The divine Presence embraced my hurting heart. I knew that all was well and I was not alone to walk a path I did not want to walk. It was an anchoring moment. It was an unforgettable lesson in gratitude. This memory still warms my heart. Those gratitude-moments still sweep over me from time to time. When they do, I feel embraced.
