The Best Gratitude Prayer

According to Meister Eckhart, the only gratitude prayer that you need ever say is “thank you”. In fact, Eckhart said that, “if the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough”.

Meister Eckhart was a German theologian, philosopher and a friar of the Dominican order. One of the preaching friars, his sermons were said to move other clergy and laypersons, alike. But, the Catholic Church considered him a heretic.

He lived from around 1260 to around 1328. According to legend, he was tried as a heretic during the Franciscan-led Inquisition under Pope John the XXII, but died before his sentence was read. There is no official record of his death or his burial place. Eckhart’s teachings have been compared to those of Buddha and to hose of Eastern mystics. The Church has yet to restore or change his status. So, he is still considered a heretic.

Buddha and Eckhart recognized the importance of being thankful, although they had no scientific proof of the effect that it has on people. Modern-day research has proven that grateful people are happier, more successful people. They cope with crises more effectively and are better at general problem-solving.

You could choose to say a long gratitude prayer every day, listing the things for which you are grateful. A good idea is to write those things down. They may change every day. So, keep a journal. You might begin with “For these things, I am grateful.”

Buddha said, “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.” It’s not a gratitude prayer, but it does emphasize the importance of being grateful.

John F Kennedy expanded on being grateful, by saying this: “We must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Let your daily actions reflect your gratefulness. How does one do that? One way is to give back.

The most successful people are very appreciative of everything that they have and everyone that helped them achieve their goals. On a regular basis, they give to their communities, their favorite charities or to their church.

So, after you say your gratitude prayer, think what you can do to give back, today. It just feels good.