See Whatever Comes as a Gift

If you could see whatever comes your way as a gift, that would itself be a great gift. One morning last week, after I had been up late and determined to sleep in, the phone rang early. I answered it and a situation presented itself requiring my time and attention, changing the course of my day.

After I hung up, I decided that rather than the beginning of a “bad” day, this would be the beginning of a “gift” day, where I would work on seeing whatever came as a value-laden gift, regardless of its apparent content and consequences. I remembered the challenge Einstein gave to humanity: “There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Sorrow, after all, is as much a gift as joy, and we learn more from, and grow more from our pains than our pleasures. Just as we remember and gain more from our failures than our successes, so the reversals and delays and frustrations of daily life are blessings in disguise. As I wrote: “A setback is a place to grow.”

My decision to view whatever came my way that day as a gift proved both difficult to sustain yet amply rewarding by day’s end. I cannot give the details of what happened, but let’s just say it was a most interesting day. Make that a most wonderful day. Why? Because I recognized I was actually receiving so many gifts, each one somehow worthwhile.

Along with recognizing daily gifts, along came gratitude. Gratitude is also a great gift, opening the door to otherwise hidden treasures. As Ellen Vaughn said, “Whatever we are waiting for—peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance—it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.”

Everything is gift. Let it be such. Receive it and make the best of what is. Be as thankful for the suffering and sadness as for the joys and enjoyments. They are as light to dark: both are necessary to recognize the three-dimensional truth of our lives. As Kahlil Gibran said in The Prophet, “And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy.” Though true, that may be difficult to accept. Yet Gibran elsewhere wrote: “Who knows but that the angels envy us our pain.”

Significantly, the same character in Chinese which signifies “crisis” also signifies “opportunity.” The two are ultimately inseparable. From the gravest predicaments has come also the greatest progress. Necessity motivates and energizes creativity.

What would your life be like if you could take whatever comes as a gift? It does not matter whether or not it is of your choosing; the only thing that matters is what you do with it. This is akin to turning lemons into lemonade.

Well, this day last week ended up filled with lemonade. And I would not change a thing that happened. The secret is to let go of your personal expectations and go with the in-breaking flow, looking for and finding the best. See what comes in its precious uniqueness. If you do I guarantee you, you will eventually succeed at seeing the gift it is.

We forget that life itself is a sheer gift. If life is a gift, so is everything unfolding within it. Take a step back and appreciate life’s grandeur.