6-10-2014 –  What is gratitude? It takes humility for a person to experience gratefulness because  gratitude is acknowledgment of ones inability to provide for or accomplish a task. Without humility there is the lack of desire to express appreciation. We see it clearly in Jesus ministry.

6-6-2014 –  I have observed a virus infecting many of us. It may be observed in this manner. Ask a person what they are thankful for and this blank look crosses the persons face along with dead silence. It is as if the person went through labor, and delivered themselves, changed every dirty diaper all by themselves, provided all the food, clothing, and shelter all by themselves. I know in my mind this is a hyperbole yet I fear we just do not get it sometimes.

6-5-2014 – What is gratitude? How is it expressed  effectively. To whom are we to be grateful, How does one most effective express of appreciation. No small endeavor.

6-3-2014 – A verse from the Bible the book of James keeps ringing in my heart; “Faith without works is dead,” over and over and then the key to the door of knowledge about addiction: Gratitude without expressions of appreciation is dead.  Thus the beginning of a new essay. A Study of Gratitude and the Importance of expressions of appreciation. Mistakenly I thought it would only be a couple of paragraphs. I underestimated the endeavor.

5-31-2014 – That was the beginning of a journey which has constantly been on my mind. This weekend another part of the puzzle appeared. In answer to the question why is there so little change of attitude when items of gratitude are written, though some diligently work on the list. Sure there were some changes yet I expected much more.

5-29-2014 – An hour later in group therapy I gave my clients an assignment. You must write down 25,000 things that you are thankful about. Knowing they could not and would not write such an outrageous amount but hoping that perhaps a list of 25, or maybe 100 items would be penned by each member. 

5-28-2014 – So I bent down and picked up another golden egg. The same thing occurred. The golden egg filled with wisdom, ‘The cure for addiction is gratitude.” I cried to the Lord “do not let me forget your words until I get to the office and write them down.”

5-27-2014 – I picked one up and put it in my left hand. It immediately broke apart and out flew  words, “there are no tears in heaven.” At the same moment the refrain from the song “No Tears in Heaven.” How amazing.

5-23-2014 – As I am driving suddenly there appeared this beautiful cathedral type building with steps leading up to an entrance. The doors  opened. Walking I observed the floor covered with golden eggs. The eggs were everywhere.

5-20-2014 – Thirty – five years ago the Lord gave me a vision.. I remember it as clearly as if it were today. Working on the Substance Abuse Unit of Terrell State Hospital, having just left home to go to work the vision began. I had been seeking from the Lord the cure for addiction. Seeing the lives it destroyed. Knowing the deep emotional struggle that tore apart men’s souls there had to be answer.