
The Buddha indeed
pointed out Gratitude as an important mental quality:
These
two people are hard to find in the world. Which two?
The one who is first to do a kindness, and
The one who is grateful and thankful for any kindness done.
Anguttara
Nikāya 2.118

I tell you, monks, there are two people
who are not easy to repay:
Which two? Your mother and father. Even if you were to
carry your mother
on one shoulder & your father on the other shoulder for 100 years, &
were
to look after them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs,
and they were to defecate and urinate right there on your shoulders, you
would not thereby repay your parents. Even if you were to establish your
mother & father in absolute sovereignty over this great earth,
abounding in
the seven treasures, you would not in that way repay your parents!
Why is that? Mothers and fathers do much for their children. They care for
them, they nourish them for long, and they introduce them to this world.
But anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles & establishes
them in faith; rouses his immoral mother & father, establishes them
in virtue;
rouses his stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in
generosity;
rouses his unwise mother & father, settles & establishes them on a new
level
of understanding: It is in this way that one truly
repays one's mother's and
father's many and longstanding services and sacrifices.
Anguttara
Nikāya 2.32

Parents, compassionate to their family, are called
Brahma, first teachers,
those worthy of gifts from their children. So the wise should show
respect,
honour them with food and drink, clothing & bedding, and anointing,
bathing,
washing their feet. Performing these services to their
parents, the wise are
praised right here and after death rejoice in heaven. Itivuttaka
106
If this is what you think of me:
The Blessed One, is sympathetic, is seeking our well-being, teaches
us this
Dhamma out of sympathy, then you should train yourself in being in harmony,
cordial, and without conflict and train in yourselves cultivation of all the 37
fine mental qualities: The 4_Foundations_of_Awareness,
the 4
right efforts,
the 4_Feet_of_Force, the 5
Abilities, 5 powers, the 7 Links
to Awakening,
& the Noble_8-Fold_Way. Majjhima Nikāya
103
A Tathagata is worshipped, honoured, respected,
thanked & shown gratitude
by any follower, who keeps practicing the Dhamma in accordance with true
Dhamma, who keeps practicing masterfully, who lives in and by the Dhamma!
Digha Nikāya 16
We will undertake & practice those qualities that
makes one a contemplative,
so that all those who helped us by services of robes, alms-food,
lodging, and
medicines will bring them great fruit and great future reward.
Majjhima
Nikāya 39

Comments:
In Pali, the word for gratitude = kataññu literally means to
have a sense of
what was done for one in the past, even when long ago. Remembering all help!
A network of kindness and gratitude is what sustains whatever goodness
there is, and ever will be in this - otherwise destitute &
impoverished - world!
Thus:
Thank you for reading this!

Gracious is Gratitude!