Joe Offer commented:

Maybe there's no obligation for gratitude or compassion, but I find both to be very helpful.
And no, I don't believe in miracles. I do believe that I am being cared for by a force beyond myself, and for that I am grateful.

I think that gratitude and compassion are like forgiveness: The benefits from them are basically to the forgiver, or the gratituder or compassionater (if there are such words. I guess now there are).

Dave Oesterreich