In the Gospel of Luke, we hear the story of Jesus healing 10 lepers. All the lepers walk away, but only one returns to thank Him. Jesus says to him, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Imagine being given such a gift and not thanking God for it!
We’re sometimes like the other nine lepers, aren’t we? God has given us so many gifts that we can’t even count them. Our gifts come in varying sizes. Some are tiny, some are huge, and some are in between. Yet we often get so bogged down in our daily lives that we go off and do things and forget to “return” to thank God for all He has given us.
As we approach Thanksgiving and Advent, let us try something new as we strive to adopt an attitude of gratefulness. Just as we examine our conscience before confession, let us do a daily examination of our blessings. Maybe we do this every morning, during an afternoon break, or before bed. Or maybe we keep a notepad nearby and jot down ideas throughout the day. The point is to focus on the many, many blessings God has given us—and then to simply say “Thank You, Lord.”
As we focus on our blessings, let us also examine our difficulties and thank God for them too, for we can ask Him to help us use them for good. If we let them, our sufferings can turn into blessings. We can use them to grow closer to God. We can use them to grow spiritually or emotionally. Or we can offer up our sufferings for someone else to lessen his suffering.
When we open ourselves up to goodness, a whole world of possibilities is available, and when we do so, our attitude starts to change. We are no longer greedy and seeking “wants” but appreciative that God has taken care of our needs. We no longer see trials and tribulations as things that make us angry or bitter but as ways to strengthen our relationship with God, as we work together—as a team—to create good.
That is the true meaning of thankfulness. And there’s no better time to start this practice than on a day dedicated to giving thanks. So whether you are spending this day with family or alone, remember Christ’s love for you and give thanks for all the incredible gifts He has bestowed upon you. Then begin a daily practice of removing yourself from the things of this world and returning to the one who loves you more than you could ever imagine.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Celebrate Life Magazine! We wish you a day filled with the recognition of your numerous blessings.
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