Gratitude for Who I Am

By Karen Van Allen

     “Miracles should inspire gratitude, not awe,” according to Miracle 31 of A Course in Miracles. “You should thank God for what you really are.” The implication is that I know who I am. I do not think God cares if I am a scientist, a baker, a cashier, or a parent. Those are roles that I have created in the physical world, and they are experienced as pairs of opposites. I might be a loving parent one day and a fearful one next week. I can be a forgiving person one day only to observe myself being vindictive on a different day.

     Think of any quality of a Divine Being—love, compassion, light, strength, joy—and you are describing the Self. We can access this Self whenever we align with God, whether through meditation, prayer, or surrender. The Science of Mind (pg. 343) says, “The greater the consciousness of God, the more complete must be realization of the True Self—the Divine Reality.

     I can witness a miracle when I am aligned with my True Self. By definition, a miracle is a change of mind that shifts our perception from the ego’s world of fear to the Spirit’s world of forgiveness. You will see someone differently once you forgive them. Begin with a small step. Be willing to forgive.

     My daughter made her transition during childbirth, and her husband was left with a newborn to raise. He remarried quickly, and I was angry at the woman that was raising my granddaughter. She would never be good enough or love the baby as much as my daughter loved her. I thought that the baby would be better off with my son and his wife or with me. The best we could do is have sporadic visitations. I could relate to someone that feels so much rage that they are out of control. Five years later, I was willing to see the baby’s earth mother differently, and I asked Spirit for help. The message I received was, “See her as if God had chosen her to raise my granddaughter.” What an incredible miracle. I was in awe of the process and grateful for the message. My perception shifted, and I began to release the anger and begin the healing process.

     Asking Spirit for a miracle has become a regular part of my spiritual practice. My mind tends to interpret situations from the ego’s viewpoint not from a higher perspective. I’m grateful to know that there is a Source available that can help me. All I need to do is be willing to see things differently.
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Karen Van Allen facilitates A Course in Miracles study group, which meets on Zoom every Monday night from 6:30-8:00 pm. New and continuing students welcome. Message me for link and password.