WHERE DOES ‘GRATITUDE’ COME FROM?

It was only after I spent a few months in Italy carving marble, that it dawned on me out-of-the-blue one day where the word comes from –

DELIGHT – © LYON 2025

It comes from the word in Latin meaning ‘grace.’

When I was in sixth grade, Latin classes were mandatory. I pretended to hate it, but truthfully, I was fascinated how some many of our english words are derived from Latin.

Years and years after Latin being drilled into my skull by the fierce, unrelenting Mr. Clum, I’m so glad that that training gave me deep understanding of english word-origin and meaning.

And yet sometimes the simplest words – like gratitude – pass me by until they smack me in the face, practically screaming – gratitude is feeling grace! Grace! It’s about grace, you ninny!

Think of it – what IS grace? It’s that indeterminable Something that only The Divine can bestow upon you.

It’s sweet.
It’s so huge it makes the cosmos seem puny.
It’s the ultimate in forgiveness.
It’s the highest gift ever.

Imagine being graced by an invisible force that only has your best in mind. You are filled with it. Everything in the universe seems like a blessing.

How do you feel? Grateful! Graced-full!

That expansion fills your heart and mind and every inch of your soul, just because.

Or maybe because someone gave you a gift, or someone helped you with something, or maybe you healed from an illness or condition.

What are you going to feel?

Graced.
Graced-full.
Grateful!

Feeling it in your bones – in every cell, down to the tiniest atom – makes it seem like the entire world is sweet. Who wouldn’t love that!

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