Blessed are You, Source of Life, who has kept us in life, sustained us, and allowed us to arrive at this moment in time.

This very special blessing of gratitude is recited by Jews at many happy occasions, at many joyful moments in time.

My parents, my wife and I went to New York last weekend to celebrate the 80th birthday of one of our closest cousins. His family and our family grew up with regular semiannual visits for various holiday and familial occasions. The above blessing, I am sure, was said at many of our get-togethers.

My father spoke briefly at my cousin Hal’s birthday party and recited the above prayer, known as the “shehecheyanu” prayer, since the first word is “shehecheyanu,” which means “kept us alive.” What a wonderful celebration it was, honoring the accomplishments of someone who has lived a long and productive and generous life.

We talked about transitional points in one’s life. Certain moments in time offer more potential for change, more opportunity for growth, more possibility for evaluation. Sometimes moments are lost, their potential never realized.

Sometimes we are faced with moments that are too striking to simply pass over without being affected in a significant way. Moments like the birth of a child, adolescence, a marriage, a divorce, midlife, an important birthday, becoming “empty nesters,” and certainly the death of a loved one – these moments and others can alter our lives.

We can get stuck in the moment and wallow in it, unable to move on and live fully. Or we can learn from that moment in time, learn from the experience, keep the feelings and thoughts with us yet move on to continue to live full lives.

The “shehecheyanu” prayer helps call to mind – helps make us conscious of – a significant moment or event which can make our lives more full and which can make us more grateful people.

How can we cultivate an “attitude of gratitude”? First we must recognize special moments. Then we must acknowledge those moments in some fashion, usually verbally. Gratitude for life, for love, for our food, for our clothes, for our family, for our friends … for these many gifts I give thanks, I offer a blessing, I express my gratitude.

We are given so many opportunities to feel the wonders of life, to experience the wonders of our universe. Our awareness of ourselves and of the world around us can enhance our appreciation for life itself. Our awareness can be strengthened by blessing special moments in our lives and by fostering an appreciation of life itself, by cultivating an attitude of gratitude.

Rabbi Barry Krieger is the rabbinic facilitator for the Hillel organization at the University of Maine in Orono. He may be reached via bkrieger56@aol.com. Voices is a weekly commentary by Maine people who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.