Gratitude

Feeling gratitude should be one of the essential activities of life. As Rabbi Miller points out, people will not feel gratitude if they are unhappy. A life of asceticism and denial for denial sake is a terrible mistake because it leaves people struggling with the middah of gratitude. They will not feel grateful if they are miserable. Yes, self-denial is a part of life, but only one part. If you turn that into the whole thing, you create a mess.

When we allow ourselves to enjoy the many kosher activities of life, we should then feel gratitude to our Creator. When we do not, we miss out on one of the great opportunities of life. William Shakespeare offered some powerful words on the mistake of ingratitude.

Blow, blow, thou Winter Wind by William Shakespeare
 
BLOW, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
  As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,         5
  Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh ho! sing, heigh ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
        Then heigh ho, the holly!
        This life is most jolly.  10

      Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
      That dost not bite so nigh
        As benefits forgot:
      Though thou the waters warp,
      Thy sting is not so sharp  15
        As friend remember'd not.
Heigh ho! sing, heigh ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
        Then heigh ho, the holly!
        This life is most jolly.  20