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Gratitude is a moral value of the first degree, and is the basis for the blessings the Sages composed. Let us first examine gratitude to people. Those who properly value a friend’s help are humble, and recognize their friend does not have to help them. It is not enough for them to be aware of this though. They must verbalize their appreciation. Doing so brings them closer, and makes them more likely to help others. Additionally, those who become accustomed to expressing gratitude learn to be aware of all the good in their lives and take pleasure in it. They are pleasantly surprised each time people do things for them, whether big or small. In contrast, the ungrateful are arrogant and think other people exist to serve them. They will never be happy, because they will always feel people are not treating them well enough. Ingrates are also toxic – they make good people feel bad, which may lead them to give up on helping others.
Of course, the greatest thanks of all are due to the Creator, Who created the entire universe in His goodness, with grace, kindness, and compassion. Many people are aware there is a Creator, but as long as they do not thank Him for His goodness, they remain detached from their own faith. Without gratitude, the knowledge God created the world is meaningless, leading nowhere. People can only perceive divine kindness when they list everything for which they are grateful to God. This in turn allows them to draw closer to the Creator, bringing goodness and blessing to the world. For this reason, the Sages instituted blessings to be recited on a variety of pleasurable experiences. For each and every experience, a person can offer gratitude to God in the best and most fitting way.
