Gratitude is the Root of Joy

It sounds kind of like a dentist-ceiling poster.  Especially with the word "root" in there. Maybe with an inspirations picture of a forest or something.  I read this yesterday-- posted by a Facebook friend who is quite inspirational.  And I thought about it a lot.  Since I am, after all, trying to become a Master of Joy, or earn my Masters of Joy, however this all works, I am interested in thoughts and quotes about joy.  

I think it's true.  And I think if gratitude is the root, or seed of joy, then love is the sunlight, and maybe service is the water.  Or maybe not, but I think it starts with gratitude, and recognizing good in my life and feeling God's love.  

Last night I woke up Peter at eleven to use the restroom.  And as most of us would be, he was grumpy and tired and our bathroom is cold, and he did not want to get out of his warm bed.  And I don't have to wake up his brothers, and it seems incredibly unfair to him that he has to deal with this.  And it is not really fair.  I got his tucked back in, and while changing the laundry I found a really nice, soft, thick, warm blanket, fresh from the dryer, and I took it down to him and put it on top of his other blankets.  

He was still grumpy.  And that's okay-- I mean he really is mostly asleep when he walks up the stairs and uses the bathroom, so it's hard to fault him for his sleep-grumpiness.  But I thought to myself, if he would allow himself to be thankful for the warm blanket, he would be a lot happier.  And allowing himself to let go of the frustration and the unfairness of it all for that moment of gratitude might let him see other things to be thankful for and happy about.  

I'm not going to suggest that making a gratitude list is the answer when you are really sad about things being unfair.  It rarely feels very sincere.  But being thankful for one thing, can start a natural chain reaction of gratitude and perhaps that can flower into happiness and joy.  Yes, I think it can.  

And now I need to get all those sleepy boys up, and dressed, and fed, and bundled, and be grateful for a good van with good tired and warm seats.  

Better get those booties on...