When St. Benedict wrote guidelines for Christian living more than 1,300 years ago, he focused on gratitude.
The first rule is simply this:
Live this life
and do whatever is done
in a spirit of Thanksgiving.
Abandon attempts to achieve security;
they are futile.
Give up the search for wealth;
it is demeaning.
Quit the search for salvation;
it is selfish.
And come to comfortable rest
in the certainty that those who
participate in this life
with an attitude of Thanksgiving
will receive its full promise.