An Attitude of Gratitude

I'm starting to write weekly reflections for one of the local secondary schools based on the Weekly Gospel Readings.  This is my spin on today's Gospel about Jesus healing the 10 lepers from Luke 17.11-19. 

Mentally make a list of all the things you are thankful for.  What are you grateful for?  Who do you need to thank?  Having trouble thinking of things?  Or do loads of thoughts come to mind?  “Who me?” you think, “What do I have to be thankful for?”

Igniter Video (YouTube): "Show me what I have to be thankful for." 

It’s so easy to complain about all the things that are bad in the world and in our lives that we forget about the good things around us.  We forget to say “Thank you.” 

There once was a grandmother with many grandchildren.  Each year for their birthdays, she would send them a card with a cheque in it.  And to her disappointment, each year, none of her grandchildren would thank her.  Finally one year, all of her grandchildren stopped by her house for a visit after receiving their birthday card.  “That’s amazing!” one of her friends exclaimed.  “No it isn’t,” said the grandmother sadly.  “I didn’t sign any of their cheques.”

Too often we approach God like this.  We only go to him when we are in need, but how often do we stop and thank him for his goodness, for all the gifts he has given you, for providing for your needs, for your very life?  Are we too busy running around moaning and complaining that we don’t take time to stop and thank God for all he has done for us?  Do you even take time to thank other around you?

There is a story in the Bible about 10 lepers who are cured from their skin disease.  Leprosy is a horrible disease that affects your skin and eats away at different body parts.  These 10 men asked Jesus to take pity and cure them of their disease.  He told them to go to the holy temple and show themselves to a priest.  While walking, they were cured of leprosy.  One of the lepers realized what happened and went back to Jesus praising God and thanking him for curing him of his disease.  Jesus asked where the other 9 were, and told the man who came back that his faith has saved him.

Which man would you be?  One of the 9 who kept walking or the 1 man who came back and thanked God for his goodness? Gratitude and thankfulness is not only essential to the Christian life, but to living a good life.  By being thankful each day, you slowly begin to change into a better person who has a positive and Godly view on life.  There are two ways to live life.  Either having an attitude of “baditude” or an attitude of “gratitude.”  Why don’t you start to slow down and notice all the things you have to be grateful for?  Then try expressing it not only to the people around you but also to God.  Maybe keep a gratitude journal or write a thank you note.  Maybe God will say the same thing to you as he did to the one leper who came back to thank him, “Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”