The Gratitude Backlog

I surprised myself focusing
On my list of petitions…
Awaiting the fulfillment
Of my requests.

As I took my eyes off the long list of petitions
I noticed the backlog
On the list of things
Awaiting my gratitude.

As I started clearing up the backlog
On my gratitude to-do list
The list of petitions was getting shorter
All of a sudden. 

It feels good and right
To clear up
The gratitude backlog
From time to time.

Dodzi Jean-Antoine Amemado is a university scholar. He also works with the Federal Government in Ottawa.

Print
14 Comments
  • Vicky Chen
    Posted at 06:10h, 21 January Reply

    That is soooo true! Thank you!

  • Dallas McQuarrie
    Posted at 06:13h, 21 January Reply

    I try to start each day with early morning prayer, and the first thing I do in prayer is thank God for all his blessings, beginning with the gift of a new day. Gratitute is an attitude that can be turned into a habit if one makes the effort every day to be grateful for all that we have received. Being human we will fail and not always succeed in being grateful each day, but we can certainly change our basic orientation. The developed world takes its wealth for granted and assumes that wealth has been ‘earned’ rather than ‘having the eyes to see’ our wealth as a challenge from God, a challenge developed societies are failing to meet, and failing badly. In understanding the terrible failures of the developed nations of the world to use the gift of wealth as God intends, the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, also known as the Parable of the Bad Tenants, is most instructive. Jesus was speaking dirctly to our time when he told this parable which is found in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 21:33–46), the Gospel of Mark (Mark 12:1–12) and the Gospel of Luke (Luke 20:9–19). When we start thanking God and expressing our gratitude each day for our many blessings, it soon becomes the hermeneutic lens through which we see the world, and we are better able to love our neighbor as ourself.

  • Paul Baker
    Posted at 06:13h, 21 January Reply

    Dodzi, an interesting juxtaposition of the prayers of petition and gratitude. The primacy of the prayer of gratitude? Thanks.

  • Richard Grover
    Posted at 09:01h, 21 January Reply

    Amen brother. Good advice for the Covid Times. Richard

  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 11:59h, 21 January Reply

    Thank you Dodzi!

  • Favour
    Posted at 15:41h, 21 January Reply

    So true. If only we take few moments to look at the other side, we will notice how amazing and rewarding our attitude of gratitude could be. The greatest way to ask for more is to say *thank you*. The ability to express one’s appreciation and be grateful for what we’ve received is like the perfect key that opens the golden door.

  • Elijah McCarthy
    Posted at 22:41h, 21 January Reply

    Thanks Dodzi for this inspiring piece of writing. Gratitude to our creator and fellow humans is, no doubt, essential for our spiritual and physical growth. Stay healthy and safe and God bless

  • Dede Marie-Jose
    Posted at 23:45h, 21 January Reply

    I like this. It’s very inspiring . We must be thankful for the gift of life, every second spent in this world is a gift.

  • Marie-Claret AMOUZOU
    Posted at 01:29h, 22 January Reply

    Thank you brother Antoine for this initiative. May the Holy Spirit assist us in putting God first every day. Thank you

  • Yao Holali Gaston KOUMEDJINA
    Posted at 02:41h, 22 January Reply

    Merci beaucoup pour le conseil . Je vais le mettre en pratique moi aussi

  • Euloge Kodjo DOKPO
    Posted at 03:32h, 22 January Reply

    Absolutely true, Dodzi.

    And we have learned that the true meaning of eternal damnation is to realize, when it is too late to change any dot to the situation, that we have , always, constantly, repeatedly, unabashedly been surrounded by the Almighty’s care and love without noticing it for what it was and being grateful for this magnitude of love: HE the ONE from whom everything we are and have (especially our breath, our life breath) and everything that is in our environment and shapes this latter, comes from.

  • M T
    Posted at 17:06h, 22 January Reply

    Beautiful poem

  • Henri T De Souza
    Posted at 10:44h, 25 January Reply

    Beautiful poem. When we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, our perspective on life simply improves.
    Thank you for sharing.

  • Komla
    Posted at 14:12h, 26 January Reply

    Très intéressant et bon à pratiquer mon grand. Merci

Post A Reply to Dede Marie-Jose Cancel Reply

Subscribe to igNation

Subscribe to receive our latest articles delivered right to your inbox!