In The Beginning

The Lord torn a little bit of Himself
He created my heart
So that I know
I belong to Him and He belongs to me

The Lord torn a little bit of Himself
He created my soul
So that I know
The being of my beginning and my end

The Lord torn a little bit of Himself
He created my intelligence
So that I know
What comes from Him should come to Him

The Lord torn a little bit of Himself
He created my personality
So that I know
He is good and so am I

The Lord torn a little bit of Himself
He created my strength
So that I know
All-mighty  means All-giving

The Lord torn a little bit of Himself
He created my life
So that I know
I am forever loved

The Lord torn a little bit of Himself
He created you
So that I know
You are as precious as I am

The Lord torn His self
He incarnated as one of us
So that we all know
He dwells in us and we in Him

~A Thanksgiving in the Monastery~

Each day when we get up in the morning,
do we thank God for this life, as another opportunity to renew our life in His love begins?

When we say "Lord, open my lips...", do we give thanks for the ability to converse with Him?

When we start our daily manual work, do we give thanks for His strength in us which keeps the world rotating naturally; that He considers us to be His co-worker in His work of salvation?

As we stop at midday, do we give thanks for what we have achieved so far before once again asking for His blessings for our continuation?

At meal time, do we give thanks to the Lord, by giving a smile, at least a short and small one, to the sister who served us, everything we receive or refuse whatever she offers or gives?

Similarly, do we give thanks to the Lord, for the honour of serving others, by serving them with warm love, calm patience and humble attention?

And how do we give thanks to the Lord in the evening? By giving Him a little bit more time in silence, as to hear Him saying "Thank you, for all that you have done!"

Yes, truly! Even the Lord says "Thank you" for our efforts, which is unworthy at all without His divine providence, yet He kept giving us more than what we can ask for. He does so because He is The Source of Thanksgiving.

And at the end of the day, have we tried our best to make our "thank You" an honest, pure, wholehearted and whole minded prayer?

Praise to You o Lord, Source of Thanksgiving.
In You our thanks be raised. In You we give all the love that You have grant us. Teach us o Lord to have a thankful heart and live-giving spirit which will bring us closer in unity with You.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord...

@Brownshill, 26.05.14