Brother David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine monk and well-known speaker on gratefulness as spiritual practice, teaches that there is a direct link between joy and gratefulness.
He has written that “the root of joy is gratefulness … It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
And David goes on to add, “We are never more than one grateful thought away from peace of heart.”
To practice gratitude or appreciative discernment, call to mind your appreciation for someone you know, a family member or a friend. Or think of a trip you took, a time when you had the privilege of being generous, a place in nature.
Today I’m grateful for you, my friends, my connected ones who follow my blog and take heart from my posts. It is my delight that we are connected in this way. My goal is to serve you tasty word meals. I enjoy knowing that you, like me feast on truth.
Today’s post is your amuse bouche, your bite-sized hors d’œuvre served gratis and according to me, your truth chef.
Eat up, chomp down on your appreciation for the good in your life.
Then breathe in and out your gratefulness to God.
Thrive! 
I am grateful for your tasty morsels!