--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be grateful is to recognize the love…" description: "\"To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.\" — Thomas Merton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/thomas-merton-231_be-grateful_to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love_776130.jpg" --- # To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in… ![“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/thomas-merton-231_be-grateful_to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love_776130.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/thomas-merton-231_be-grateful_to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love_776130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/thomas-merton-231_be-grateful_to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love_776130.jpg) > “To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude reveals God's love in all aspects of life. **In simple terms:** Thankfulness shows divine love. Key Takeaway Practice daily gratitude. Themes spirituality thankfulness mindfulness Mood contemplative peaceful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - prayer - journaling - relationships - nature appreciation Key Concepts theology perception humility Questions to Reflect On - What small thing can you thank for today? - How does gratitude change your view of hardship? A Different Perspective Gratitude may feel forced if not sincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-grateful/) [Christian thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-thanksgiving/) [God love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-love/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Grateful Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful-recognize-3774172/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Gratitude and thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude-and-thanks/) [Gratitude to god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude-to-god/) [Great gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-gratitude/) [Hearsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearsay/) [Inspirational gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-gratitude/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love and gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-gratitude/) [Love god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-god/) [Love gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-gratitude/) [Love of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-of-god/) [Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize/) [Recognize Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize-love-327860/) [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) [Thanksgiving and gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-and-gratitude/) [Thanksgiving grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-grateful-185257/) [Thanksgiving gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-gratitude/) [Unresponsive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unresponsive/) ## Related quotes > [Thou that hast given so much to me give me one thing more, a grateful heart: not thankful when it pleaseth me, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/thou-that-hast-given-so-much-to-me-give-me-one-thing-more-a-grateful/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Every breath we draw is a gift of God's love; every moment of existence is a grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/every-breath-we-draw-is-a-gift-of-god-s-love-every-moment-of/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Houses of Congress have . . . requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/houses-of-congress-have-requested-me-to-recommend-to-the-people-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/gratitude-can-transform-common-days-into-thanksgivings/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Thanks are the highest form of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/thanks-are-the-highest-form-of-thought/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-can-turn-a-meal-into-a-feast/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us — and He has given us everything. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love-of-god-in-everything-he-has/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything He has given us...and He has given us everything. Every breath we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love-of-god-in-everything-he-has-3/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-grateful-person-knows-that-god-is-good-not-by-hearsay-but-by/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/gratitude-takes-nothing-for-granted-is-never-unresponsive-is/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/why-are-we-not-grateful-to-god-for-filling-our-stockings-with-legs/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-grateful-for-what-i-am-and-have-my-thanksgiving-is-perpetual-it/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [God is love. I don't say the heart doesn't feel a taste of it, but what a taste. The smallest glass of love mixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/god-is-love-i-don-t-say-the-heart-doesn-t-feel-a-taste-of-it-but-what/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“My mother was born on Valentine’s Day and because of that, I have oddly always loved Valentine’s Day. I have friends who absolutely hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-limon/my-mother-was-born-on-valentine-s-day-and-because-of-that-i-have/) [Ada Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-limon/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Be grateful quotes > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/focus-on-being-grateful-for-what-you-have-already-enjoy-it-then/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [My first encounter with yoga was in 1969 with my older brother Doug. I was thirteen years old, and he was eighteen. He'd learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/my-first-encounter-with-yoga-was-in-1969-with-my-older-brother-doug-i/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) > [Just remember: to be grateful and thank the people who are there and support you along the way is a great start to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/just-remember-to-be-grateful-and-thank-the-people-who-are-there-and/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/be-calm-be-strong-be-grateful-and-become-a-lamp-full-of-light-that/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another for there will always be others whose lives on the face of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/enjoy-your-own-life-without-comparing-it-with-that-of-another-for/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [Speak what I have to be grateful for when I get up and when I lie down to sleep. Meditation and prayer. I pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-taylor/speak-what-i-have-to-be-grateful-for-when-i-get-up-and-when-i-lie/) [Regina Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-taylor/) > [Be grateful for the love you have to share-share it, and it will return to you ten times over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-praagh/be-grateful-for-the-love-you-have-to-share-share-it-and-it-will/) [James Van Praagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-praagh/) > [There are those who say that trees shade the garden too much, and interfere with the growth of the vegetables. There may be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/there-are-those-who-say-that-trees-shade-the-garden-too-much-and/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [Kids aint supposed to be grateful! They're supposed to eat your food, break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/kids-aint-supposed-to-be-grateful-they-re-supposed-to-eat-your-food/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) [Browse all 602 Be grateful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-grateful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Merton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love-of-god-in-everything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be grateful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love-of-god-in-everything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/thomas-merton-231_be-grateful_to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love_776130.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/thomas-merton-231_be-grateful_to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love_776130.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/thomas-merton-231_be-grateful_to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love_776130.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.” — Thomas Merton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Merton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be grateful is to recognize...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love-of-god-in-everything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love-of-god-in-everything/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```