Gratitude in adversity
Gratitude happens when a heart feels nourished, even if one’ s legs are shaking and one’ s belly is terribly hungry.
A great mystic named Bayazid prayed to the divine every day, expressing gratitude and thankfulness.
Once, he and his disciples went without anything to eat for three days. In every town they were hunted down, some people were angry with them because they did not follow the laws of the government. But even that night, Bayazid gave thanks. One disciple said, “This is too much. We no longer tolerate it. What do you thank God for?” Bayazid had just said, “You are so good, Life is wonderful. Everything we need He always gives us”. The disciple said, “Now you are exaggerating. We have been hungry for three days and have been driven out of every village and people are looking for us to kill us. And you say, ‘Everything we need you always give us’? What have you given us in three days?”
Bayazid laughed and replied: “He gave us three days of poverty, hunger and people who want our skin. Everything we need, he gives us. That is what is needed.”
You may feel alone at times, marginalised, not understood, but don’t worry about that, it is part of the journey of those like you in this time. Only, if you can, don’t turn God into your enemy, turn him into an opportunity.
A hug in your hour of need
