August 19, 2006: Saturday
An angel appeared by the right side of the gazebo. He leaned into the seating area, propping his elbows and forearms on the rail.
“Anna,” he said, “I am GRATITUDE. Your Father feels you need my assistance.” He adjusted himself as if to present a new idea; then continued. “What do you have that you have not received from the Lord? Surely the children of Israel grumbled in the wilderness, for they looked upon their progressive desires.”
“Progressive?” I questioned.
“Once a desire has been answered, another desire raced from the horizon and rushed into their tents. Desire is a cruel taskmaster.”
He continued: “Instead of acting like the children of Israel, the children of the Living God should call to mind, with gratitude, the blessings already given by their Father. This (gratitude) would leave little room for the gnawing worm of another and yet another desire. Then the suffering from progressive desire would cease.”
He raised himself from leaning on the gazebo rail. “Therefore, your Father has sent me to assist you in order that the peace of the Lord might replace this restlessness.”
He smiled and then winked at me and was gone.
This is one of my favorite angels: The Angel of Gratitude.
Indeed the Desert Fathers said that gratitude towards God is one of the best-bestowed gifts we should seek.
They felt that gratitude opened the channels for good from our Heavenly Father to the believer. Gratitude showed appreciation to the Lord for all that has been bestowed already. Therefore, gratitude allows us time to be happy, thankful, embracing the kindness He has already given.
The Desert Fathers felt that – not only is the Lord infinitely worthy of such continual expressions of thanks from His children – but the continual expression of gratitude toward God changes the whole way we perceive life.
When I was growing up a relative of mine used to say: “I’ve got the ‘I wants’ and ‘the gimmes’ – a term she used when she wanted to go out to get some ice cream. It was an endearing saying. Of course, the dictionary brought us back to stark reality giving us the actual meaning of the word “gimme”, (grown children who still expect money from parents.)
Our Heavenly Father, says to come before Him and “ask” that our “joy may be made full.” But dear children of the Living God, to simply go to Him with our hands out each time we seek to be with Him – well, no human would appreciate that type of relationship – why should He?
The Lord sent to me the Angel Gratitude because my mind was restless with the desire for many things. It was a relief to “lay those burdens down”.
There was great joy in replacing progressive desires with an unending fellowship with Him. Of course, I “ask” when I need something for the work (for, after all, we are not only family we are in His employ.)
I am sharing with you about the Angel Gratitude because you may want to ask the Lord to send an angelic helper from that particular choir to assist you, also.
I wish to encourage you – for the Desert Fathers were right. Your life becomes one of unending joy when you overflow with gratitude to and for our Lord.
