Here in my “office” at home, I have before me reproductions of two greeting cards I wrote for Hallmark a number of years ago. They both deal with Gratitude as the “secret” to joyful living. “The secret of a joyful heart/is living gratefully/receiving as a gift whatever comes/to you and me…” says one. “To have a grateful attitude/is always to believe/ that everything in life/is but a gift that we receive…” says the other.

Chirpy, aren’t we?

I won’t retract my admonition that gratefulness—as opposed to greediness, regret, blame, etc.—is the better path to joy. Gratefulness includes kindness, generosity, appreciation, and other expressions of an outward-looking attitude that leads to human connection and spiritual health. The words I’m having trouble with today are “everything” and “whatever.” And the word “gift” as well.

Life is life. Poverty, disease, oppression, politics. Being the target of bigotry, violence, injustice, natural disaster. If these are “gifts” then from whom? And why? That’s a classic question people who pay attention to religion would call “theodicy”—essentially, why do bad things happen to good people? Or, indifferently, to everyone?

I wouldn’t call such conditions “gifts” anymore. And I wouldn’t say Gratefulness brings ultimate relief. Perhaps in the depth of horror and despair, the human spirit always has something to give. That is not for me to insist.

In abundance, however, I may not remain ungrateful or refuse to re-gift.

At this moment, it appears that Life isn’t finished with me. So I’ll try to follow my own advice from another Hallmark Card near at hand:

“Give yourself away. For free. Give away your time, ideas, abilities, praise. Especially praise. Generosity reaps unexpected dividends. Give yourself away. You’ll be rich in everything that counts.”

Bob says, “Are you done? I’d be grateful for some Fancy Feast.”