“Absence makes the heart grow fonder”. In that fondness, find gratitude for the things/qualities that are absent.

Guiding Thought

Through gratitude, my consciousness of Love expands, connecting me with All. Gratitude increases my awareness of unity; gratitude shows me our Wholeness. Gratitude is the bridge to knowing others as my Self. What a gift you are!

Reflection

Sometimes it’s so simple.

Too often I think I need to concentrate and push and work to go deeper, as though if I am not doing those things, I am not accomplishing anything.

But then there are times like today, when the entirety of the Guiding Thought floods my mind/emotions in an instant, and I experience in that second every nook and cranny that the Guiding Thought is exposing.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Think of something or someone who is absent, which makes your heart grow fonder. This can be someone who has passed (even an animal!), or a long-distance friend or relationship, or even (as in my case), a certain aspect of a relationship which is currently not present. It could be (for example) a mother who has given birth, and now feels the absence of the fetus inside; it could be the ending of a huge project; it could be a collaborative relationship that is ended, in transition, or temporarily halted.

There are so many things that contribute to who we are, to the quality of life. When those things are absent, there is an emptiness. Yet, within that emptiness there is an acknowledgement of all of the great, amazing things that were those contributing factors. If those things were not present, we would not feel an absence, would we?

And in that recognition of all those amazing qualities and contributing factors, I found such gratitude for their contribution. And in that gratitude, the entire Guiding Thought was revealed.