Practicing Gratitude . . .

 Prayer Practice:

The end of the day is always a good time to lean back in our memory and recall the experiences of the day and to pray with gratitude. The Examen prayer format is not for judging your day or yourself, but for reviewing the day and noticing and acknowledging the day and its gifts.

Step 1: Set aside a quit time at the end of your day and look back over it.  Ask yourself, “What was life-giving for me in this day?” and take some time to remember what brought you life this day.  Then ask yourself, “What was life-draining for me this day?” and recall what was draining for you this day.

Step 2: Another optional set of questions could be, “Where did I notice God’s love this day?” or “Where did I receive God’s love this day and give God’s love today?”

Or another set of questions could be, “When was I really awake this day?” and “when was I just drifting this day, not awake at all?”

Step 3: Spend time reflecting on each question.  Then, on your out-breath release anything you wish to let go of from this day.  – “I release ___ from this day. On your in-breath, affirm what you hold as a gift this day. – “I affirm ___ from this day - offering it all to our compassionate God.

A Gratitude Story:
A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" 
"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say, " the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?" 

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