The most important message I’ve tried to impart to my grandchildren is the virtue of gratitude. Too often we see ourselves as victims and lament the perceived injustices against us. We dwell on negatives and are easily offended. The result is unhappiness and depression. Gratitude is the opposite. It is the positive feeling of looking at the good things in life and realizing how fortunate we are.  It is the ability to give thanks for all those who have helped us in life—our parents, grandparents, teachers, clergy, physicians, friends, and others. No matter what our circumstances, we all have something to be thankful for. All we have to do is to take stock of those positives and make a purposeful effort to appreciate them. Being able to thank God for the gift of life, our family, our country, our freedom, and all our blessings is to know true happiness. Jim …