One my greatest lessons about the power of anticipation and gratitude in creating reality came from a five year old girl.
We had just finished a ceremony and everyone was in the house gathered around a table full of delicious potluck foods. Most of us had finished the main course, including a darling little five year old girl, and were eying the desserts. I saw the girl secretively ask her mom a question to which her mom whispered back. A moment later, this little girl was standing in front of me with eyes as big as saucers, full of anticipation.
“Misa can I have a piece of cake?” she asked, looking at an untouched, luscious chocolate cake on the table.
She was asking with complete hope that I was going to say, “Yes.”
I said a quiet prayer of hope that she could eat wheat and sugar, because it would have broken my heart to tell her, “No.” I had to assume her mother would have intervened if that had been the case.
“Yes, you may!” I said with delight, matching her own enthusiasm.
“Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around me giving a big, grateful hug.
What I learned from this little one is that enthusiastic anticipation is irresistible. And enthusiastic gratitude is a fun reward. With all of her hope, trust and excitement, I would have given her as much as she wanted and more, provided it was good for her. From her, I learned that creating is meant to be fun! As a result of her lesson, I now ask with joy and certainty when I am already quite sure my request will be granted and is good for me. Then I give thanks with a full and cheerful heart.
What the five year old girl taught me is what children seem to know naturally—enthusiastic anticipation and gratitude is hard to resist!
