Gratitude is the practice of consciously recognizing and appreciating all the good things in our lives, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. It teaches us to embrace life as it is rather than constantly striving for more. But when life throws us a curve ball, and we need something to sustain us, we turn to faith. Faith is trusting in something bigger than ourselves, whether it be a divine power, the universe, or simply a belief in the inherent goodness of humanity.
Norman Vincent Peale shares a powerful story of faith in his international bestseller, The Power of Positive Thinking. As the story goes, Josh O'Reilly was a one-time manager of the San Antonio Club of the Texas League. He had a roster of great players that everybody thought would easily take the championship. But the club fell into a slump and lost seventeen of the first twenty games. O'Reilly knew that he had stars on his team but realized their trouble was that they were thinking wrong. They were focusing not on victory but on defeat. They had lost faith in their ability to win.
It just so happened that a popular “faith healing” preacher named Schlater was in the neighborhood at that time. People flocked to him, and he was getting some astounding results. So O’Reilly asked each player to lend him their two best bats. He put the bats in a wheelbarrow, took off with them, and was gone for an hour.
He returned with the bats, telling the players that the preacher had blessed each one and that they now contained a power that could not be overcome. Jubilantly grateful for their blessed bats, the players went to work. The next day, they overwhelmed Dallas, getting 37 base hits and 20 runs. They hammered their way through the league to a championship, and for years in the Southwest, a player would pay a hefty sum for a "Schlater bat.”
Was there a difference in the bats? Not at all. The difference was in the players’ gratitude for their blessed bats, their new thought patterns, and where they placed their faith, which gave them the strength to persevere. Gratitude and faith go together like a baseball and a bat. One without the other makes it impossible to be a winner.
When we cultivate gratitude, we strengthen our faith by acknowledging the abundance surrounding us. And when we have faith, we deeply appreciate the opportunities that come our way. Together, gratitude and faith form a powerful foundation for a fulfilled and purposeful life. So, whenever life throws you a curve ball, as it inevitably will occasionally, remember the O'Reilly story, find something to believe in, and keep swinging.
Do you have stories about the source of your faith and how it has impacted your life? I'd love to hear them. Contact me at smallchange@myrtlerussell.com. Learn more about the small change Toolkit at www.myrtlerussell.com
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