I don’t know about you but I am at an age where I try to practice gratitude as often as I can. It hasn’t always been that way with me. In earlier years, it was not that I wasn’t grateful, it was just that it didn’t enter my awareness. I think many of us are this way, we just don’t notice or we are too busy. But be careful in thinking about this, saying thank you is not really gratitude.
True gratitude comes from the heart, with full intent to express love. God’s sort of love that is, you know, the kind you never earn and don’t deserve. Fr. Ronald Rolheiser goes so far as to say that gratitude is the basis for all holiness. Now, consider that…..to be holy is to be grateful. The model prayer teaches us that if we will listen. We live in God’s kingdom as full citizens, grateful for our place in the kingdom and mindful that we have enough to eat and we have forgiveness.
Do we need a better reason to be grateful? Throughout the life of Jesus, we see him expressing true and deep gratitude: a cup of water, a donkey to ride, a few loaves of bread and a fish or two. Every time, he gave thanks, deep gratitude. I sometimes think he was most grateful for every person that listened to him and every person who wanted to follow him. God was “well pleased” with Jesus and that truly is gratitude.
Does it dawn on you (and me) that the Eternal is grateful for us? That we are beloved? At this moment are you thinking no way that applies to me? Please don’t because it is God’s truth. He delights in us and is grateful because He enjoys our company, our very presence. We matter to the Creator of all, we are born with the Spirit of the living God within us.
What bothers me today about millennials is that there is very little gratitude on their part. I know they often feel entitled, they demand that you accept them just like they are, without any judgement at all. If that generation is bereft of gratitude, guess who is to blame? All of us as parents, church members, teachers and yes, even pastors. In fact, the many ministers who preach a prosperity gospel have contributed greatly to and fostered this lack of gratefulness.
So, I have decided to be grateful every time I possibly can. Grateful that my college students took my class, grateful for their great discussions, grateful when my wife does even the smallest thing for me. Grateful to have a daughter who is a minister of the gospel. Grateful for another daughter who never had to accept me into her life…..and did it anyway. Grateful for the food on my plate, the car I own and so much more. And what about you dear friend, what opportunities for gratefulness are you missing? At every moment, there is an opportunity, what say we agree to seek them out.
TMM