Give thanks for the blessings in life

We were all born into this world with empty hands, and one day we will all die in the same way. No matter how much power we may assume, how much wealth we may accumulate, or how many people we may persuade to support us, in the end we will all die in the same way: alone and empty-handed. We will most likely also suffer small deaths in our life along the way: bad investments, crushed expectations, end of relationships, death of loved ones. In these deaths, we are shocked out of the feeling of entitlement so prevalent in our society, and into the recognition that everything has been borrowed; everything has been a gift.

Alexander the Great was a supremely powerful king and conqueror. At the age of thirty-two, he became very sick, and soon realized he would die. He called his generals to him, and told them that he had three last wishes. The first was that his doctor would carry his coffin alone. The second was that gold, silver, and gems he has accumulated should be scattered along the path where his coffin would be carried. And the third was that he should be buried with his hands outside the coffin. Only his closest general dared ask why. After taking a deep breath, Alexander said: “I want everyone to understand the three lessons I have learned. To let my doctor carry my coffin alone is to let people realize that a doctor cannot really cure people’s illness. Especially when they face death, the doctors are powerless. I hope people will learn to treasure their lives. My second wish is to tell people not to be like me in pursuing wealth. I spent my whole life pursuing wealth, but I was wasting my life most of the time. My third wish to let people understand that I came to this world in empty hands and I will leave this world also in empty hands.”  He closed his eyes, fell silent, and died.

Give thanks every night for blessings we have received to release the sense of entitlement. It reminds us that we are, essentially, always empty-handed.

To live life in desire, no matter how much or how little you may have, is to live in lack. 

To live life in gratitude, no matter how rich or poor you may be, is to live in genuine abundance. 

Source: Internet