I presume “gratitude” comes from the same root as “grace.” In that I am reminded of the distinction between mercy and grace.
“Mercy” is when you DON’T get a consequence you DO deserve, whereas “grace” is when you DO get a consequence you DON’T deserve.
It is indeed a realization of the action of grace that brings one to humility.
Merry Christmas to all, this blessed season.
James Madison is remembered, if at all, by students today as a slave owner and that, in their minds, negates all the good his brilliant mind produced. Above anyone else, he is responsible for our constitution and bill of rights. We owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. I wonder how many twenty and thirty year olds have ever even heard his name? I’d guess less than twenty percent of the products of public, government schools and perhaps thirty percent of their highly educated teachers.
Bingo!
Snip:
“Obama’s so-called apology tour, his Cairo speech and his dismissals of American exceptionalism suggest that the president is not quite sure why America is the richest, freest and most powerful nation in the world — although he certainly takes for granted its preeminent position and the perks and influence that go along with it as president.”
He not only takes it for granted, but has admittedly set out to “fundamentally change” our culture and our nation, by doing everything possible to mock, remove, and destroy a mindset of gratitude, by promoting a mindset of ENTITLEMENT.
” Contemporary Americans prefer blaming others...for their own unhappiness while patting themselves on the back for anything that goes well. “
Congrats, VDH, you’ve cracked the Participation Trophy enigma, and its concomitant Self-Esteem legacy. These are one step removed from the much older practice of praising God for a good outcome while blaming the devil if things don’t work out.
bfl