Gratitude.

One of my favorite quotes, as introduced to me by my father, is by the wildly brilliant G.K. Chesterton :

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

The reason why this is one of my favorite things to reflect on lies not in the blatant poetry of Chesterton's words and their ability to powerfully invoke beautiful imagery. That, to me, is apparent. It is the sheer breathtaking way in which those words quickly and effectively pierce my heart, making it bleed with conviction and shame at my ingratitude, my self-absorption, my lack of thanks. It calls to mind not just visions of endless night skies, but of faces, of places, of tender moments shared, of gifts and blessings. It is a reminder to pause briefly in my day to be grateful for all that I am given when it seems much more beneficial in that moment to consider all that I am not. It is a checkpoint in my day to pause, to exhale, to put things in perspective, and to remember that these things that consume us are mere things, and that things are not eternal. Though this quote never fails to bring me important moments of self-discovery and recognition,  what is most important of all is that it brings me closer to moments of God-discovery and God-recognition. It is so easy for me to simply bask in the goodness while only thanking my loved ones or myself for times of bliss. Unfortunately the easiest thing to forget to do, which is ironically the most essential component of all our expressions of gratitude, is to thank our Lord -- for He is not only the source of all good things enjoyed at present, but also for all of the good and exciting things still left for our discovery.