The Medicine of Gratitude

Sacred Song 100:1-5

“Let all the earth shout for joy to Grandfather. Serve Grandfather with glad hearts. Come before him with singing and dancing. Take it to heart that Grandfather is the Great Spirit. He created us for himself. We are his people, the sheep he watches over with tender care. Enter the sacred circle and dance in step with the drum as they sing honor songs. Send up prayers of thanksgiving and bless his name. For Grandfather is good, with a love so strong it never ends. He is faithful and true to all generations to come” – Psalm 100:1-5, FNV

Gratitude is a medicine that heals the spirit. Among Indigenous peoples, giving thanks goes beyond a single prayer or gathering. Gratitude is a daily practice woven into how we greet the day, how we appreciate meals, in the way we honor creation, and in the way we tell stories that remember Creator’s goodness. Gratitude opens our eyes so that ordinary moments become holy encounters. As an orientation of the heart, gratitude sees God’s goodness in creation, in community, and in all parts of life.

The sacred song, or psalm, encourages us to bring thanksgiving into our whole being with singing, dancing, and blessing God’s name. In this way, gratitude is medicine that empowers us from within. When we exercise gratitude, we come to the wide table of God, where good things meet us. Like a drumbeat that echoes through the earth, gratitude is the heartbeat that sustains us.

Reflect for a moment. Have you ever experienced someone who is ungrateful? Truth be told, being around ungrateful people does not feel good. A life without gratitude is empty of the delight of God’s presence. Gratitude makes a difference because it reminds us that no matter what is happening, we can always find a reason to give praise to God. Gratitude can be spoken in a prayer or song, shown in actions that honor God, or shared through friendship and presence that reflect God’s love. Gratitude, in all its forms, becomes praise that honors the Lord. With every breath of thanks, we join the song of all creation.

Medicine for the Day

I walk with a grateful heart, and God’s thankfulness flows through me.