Be Grateful

At this time of year there is a shared theme in the religious proceedings of both Judaism and Christianity. Passover and Easter each contain a reminder for us to revisit that weakest of human emotions -- gratitude.

For the older religion there is the reminder that ancestors were all slaves who were freed from bondage so that they could go on and live their lives in freedom. Many today really do appreciate that freedom, but sadly many do not. Facing up to freedom and its consequences are found in the something a child who whines about their lessons: "It's too hard!"

For the offspring religion, there is the reminder that One took on the burdens so that souls could be freed of the sins (the falling short of perfection) that arise in this world to first mislead and then confound each individual soul during the life of the body it inhabits.

In the Jewish sedar proceedings, there is a song known by its repetitive segment. Dayenu*. It is pronounced Dai-Yay-Nu. It means "It would have been enough." Enough for what? To praise the Lord. To show gratitude.

The whole song (hard to find -- it can go on and on as people think of another event) is a vessel in which to remember each of the gifts and miracles and justice that had to transpire for the children of Israel to be released from bondage under Pharaoh and to be free to seek the Promised Land. After each miracle performed, the Dayenu refrain follows, which is a way of saying "It would have been enough -- and yet there was more." It's about being reprieved from the foolishness of generations that had grown soft and allowed themselves to become slaves.

I'm not that familiar with specific popular Christian songs that relate the similar theme that grants release for the immortal soul as purchased by Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of humanity. (Handel's Messiah seems mostly about Revelation's finale.) However, I'm pretty sure the word Hallelujah is tied to it. It's another Hebrew word that is rarely defined for English listeners. But it essentially means "praise the Lord."

The Gospel words "For God so loved the world He gave up his Son so that everyone who trusts in Him shall not be lost, but shall have eternal life" are supposed to be remembered today. I pray that more will come to understand and actually be grateful. Really.

So try. Try hard to be grateful.
Wherever you are, for your life itself, and more.
For having been given the gift, however it has been offered to you, which if accepted, would allow that your soul might know peace.

---
* see the whole lyric after the break here
CHORUS:

Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu,
da-ye-nu!


Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Dai, da-ye-nu,
Da-ye-nu, da-ye-nu!

 The English translation for the stanza follows. (They are quite melodic in Hebrew as you heard when you clicked the link above in the body of this post).

Had he brought us out of Egypt, but not split the sea before us,
Brought us out of Egypt, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]

Had he split the sea before us, but not fed us in the desert, Split the sea before us, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]


Had he fed us with the manna, but not brought us to Mount Sinai, Fed us with the manna, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]


Had he brought us to Mount Sinai, but not given us commandments, Brought us to Mount Sinai, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]


Had he given us commandments, but not led us into Israel, Given us commandments, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]


Had he led us into Israel, but not given us the prophets, Led us into Israel, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]


Had he given us the prophets, but not built for us the Temple, Given us the prophets, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]


Had he built for us the temple, but not promised the Messiah, Built for us the Temple, well then--Dayenu!
[Chorus]