There is a wonderful medicine that fills our hearts with joy and peace.
That is what I wish to introduce to you today — it is called gratitude.
If we have it, even the most ordinary life becomes beautiful.
The Roman thinker Cicero once said,
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
A thankful heart is a person’s true wealth.
Those who are grateful are rich even in poverty;
those who are ungrateful are poor even in riches.
Let us try to understand what gratitude really means.
When we recognize and appreciate the good someone does for us, that is thankfulness.
But gratitude is an even broader outlook —
it is a state of mind that sees goodness everywhere, at all times, and rejoices in it.
Let us consider a simple example:
Someone gives us half a cup of water.
We can think in two ways:
“Only half a cup?” or “At least there’s half a cup!”
Both are true — but the first is a complaint, the second is gratitude.
The beauty of life reveals itself when we choose the second.
How Gratitude and Complaint Are Born?
Fifteen-year-old Appu expects an iPhone for his birthday.
If he doesn’t get it, he feels disappointed, sad, and complains.
But if Appu expects nothing at all,
even a small book would delight him —
and if he receives nothing, he still feels no sorrow.
At the root of most disappointments in life lie our expectations.
The greater the expectation, the smaller the joy and gratitude.
A heart that expects nothing sees everything as a gift —
and that is the secret of happiness.
Why Do We Expect So Much From Others?
Often, we assume that others owe us goodness.
But the truth is this: no one owes us anything.
Yet, we are all meant to help one another and live together.
When we realize this, complaint gives way to gratitude.
We begin to see beauty even in small and ordinary things —
in a smile, a kind word, a helping hand, or the gentle touch of a breeze.
The Words of the Wise
Across religions and ages, all great teachers have seen gratitude as one of humanity’s highest powers.
The Buddha said:
> “A thankful person easily finds happiness; wherever he is, he lives in peace.”
Confucius taught:
> “Forget the faults of others, but never forget their kindness.”
Socrates said:
> “A grateful heart opens the door to wisdom and virtue.”
Prophet Muhammad taught:
> “Whoever is not grateful to people is not grateful to God.”
And when only one of the ten lepers He had healed came back to thank Him,
Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”
All these voices — across faiths and centuries — proclaim the same truth:
a grateful heart is the source of peace and harmony.
How to Cultivate Gratitude
Gratitude does not grow naturally; it must be practiced.
Here are two simple exercises that can help:
1️⃣ Before going to sleep:
Recall three good things that happened that day — however small.
A smile, a friendship, a delicious meal — anything that brought joy.
As days go by, you’ll begin to see the world as a more beautiful place.
2️⃣ When you wake up in the morning:
Begin with a thought of thanks:
> “Today I am alive, I can see, hear, feel.
My heart beats, I breathe — for this I am thankful.”
These two small habits can transform our minds.
When we give thanks, complaints fade.
When we complain, joy disappears.
Gratitude lifts us —
from selfishness to compassion,
from complaint to kindness,
from sorrow to peace.
A grateful person radiates light wherever they go —
in the family, at work, in the community.
They sow seeds of joy around them,
and conflicts dissolve easily in their presence.
In Conclusion
My friends, gratitude is not merely a feeling — it is a way of life.
It makes us human, connects us to one another, and turns life into a celebration.
The moment we begin to feel that what we have is enough,
we become truly rich.
Let us decide today:
> “I will learn to give thanks, not to complain.
I will value every experience of life.
I will train my eyes to see not the evil, but the good in all things.”
When thankful hearts come together,
the world becomes more beautiful.
For gratitude is the language of joy
and the pathway to peace.
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