Being Grateful
When are the times when you don't need to thank someone?
One would be if I am just doing my job, while another might be if I am doing God's work.
When he saw them, he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. - Luke 17:14-16
In today''s Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus cures ten lepers. One returns to thank him and praise God. The others might have thought Jesus was just doing his job?
Over the years, "thank you" has served me well. At the end of each day, I try to remember to thank all who helped me during the day at work, whether it was their job or not.
I have been told that is a bad practice, but I don't understand why. I am truly grateful for all who choose to do what may not come naturally, to do something for someone else without complaining.
Luke, in his telling of this story, wants us to know that the one who came back was a Samaritan, one despised by those who may be listening to the story. He has an agenda. He wants to rub their noses in it.
Having the least respected one be the one who goes out of his way to be respectful and grateful makes the point all the more that this is what we should be doing. We should be praising God for all He does for us.
Perhaps the nine didn't see their cures as a gift from God. Somehow, while walking, they were just miraculously changed by their own actions?
I believe there is very little that happens in my life that I can take full credit for. With the Spirit of God dwelling inside me, I am blessed with His presence, and that means amazing things can happen.
The challenge I see is one of seeing all that happens as miraculous. If I forget that none of these moments I experience are mine, that all comes from God, good, bad, ugly, everything, I will also forget to say thanks.
This day, I choose to be grateful. Whatever happens, it will be a gift just to be alive to experience it, so I will try to be thankful. And at the end of the day, when I remember to thank everyone who helped me, I will thank God as well.
After all, without Him, nothing is possible.
More to come...