Gratitude can be easy to talk about.
But living with gratefulness is something deeper.
It asks us to notice.
To slow down.
To become awake to the life happening around us.
Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness by David Steindl-Rast, with a foreword by Henri J. M. Nouwen, explores gratefulness as an attitude toward life and spiritual practice. The book discusses aliveness and wakefulness, prayer, contemplation, leisure, faith, openness to surprise, belonging, and fullness and emptiness.
🌻 Gratitude Begins With Noticing
Sometimes we rush through our days.
Wake up.
Appointments.
Work.
Responsibilities.
Sleep.
Repeat.
We may not notice the small moments around us.
A warm cup of tea.
Sunlight through a window.
A conversation.
A peaceful moment.
Someone showing up for us.
Gratefulness asks us to notice.
🧠 After Brain Injury, Small Things Can Become Bigger
Brain injury can change our relationship with ordinary moments.
A quiet room may become precious.
A good night’s sleep may feel like a gift.
A day without overwhelming symptoms may feel significant.
A caregiver’s patience may mean everything.
A simple task completed independently may become a victory.
❤️ Gratefulness Doesn’t Deny Pain
This is important.
Gratitude doesn’t mean:
“Everything is wonderful.”
It doesn’t require pretending that injury isn’t painful.
You can be grateful for your life while grieving what changed.
You can appreciate your caregivers while wishing you didn’t need them.
You can love your life and still have difficult days.
🙏 Prayer Can Be an Attitude
The book explores prayer and prayerfulness as part of spiritual life, not simply as words spoken at a particular time.
For some people, prayer is deeply religious.
For others, moments of silence, reflection, contemplation, or gratitude may serve a similar purpose.
The important thing is creating space to become present.
🌿 Being Awake to Life
The book’s emphasis on “aliveness and wakefulness” can be especially meaningful.
How often are we physically present but mentally somewhere else?
How often do we miss the moment because we’re worrying about tomorrow?
Gratefulness invites us back.
Here.
Now.
This moment.
🕊️ Openness to Surprise
Life doesn’t always follow our plans.
Brain injury certainly may not.
But unexpected moments can still contain meaning.
A new friendship.
A new interest.
A different purpose.
An unexpected act of kindness.
A new way of seeing yourself.
💗 Love Love Brain Thoughts
Gratefulness doesn’t mean forgetting what we’ve lost.
It means allowing ourselves to notice what remains.
The person who stayed.
The morning we woke up.
The breath we are taking.
The small victory.
The moment of laughter.
The quiet afternoon.
The chance to try again.
Sometimes gratitude isn’t about having more.
It’s about noticing more.
💬 We’d Love to Hear From You
What is one small thing you are grateful for today?
Who is someone you are grateful to have in your life?
What ordinary moment has become meaningful to you?
📖 Where to Find the Book
Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer was published by Paulist Press in 1984 and is listed at 224 pages. The book’s contents include sections on aliveness and wakefulness, prayerfulness, contemplation, faith, openness to surprise, belonging, and fullness and emptiness.
🛒 Get the Book on Amazon
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Note: This book review is for educational and reflective purposes only and is not medical advice.
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