“BE GRATEFUL at all times. Turn gratefulness into an attitude of gratitude.” These were words that struck me during a homily at the Sacred Heart Community Chapel.
Think about it. “Gr (gratefulness)” plus “attitude” is “gratitude.”
How often are we grateful? How often do we express our gratefulness? Do we have the habit of being thankful and expressing our gratefulness?
Do we see and appreciate not only the big, but also the small favors, blessings, gifts and “rewards” that come our way?
Do we take for granted minor events, and the times when other people make our work, and our lives easier, more bearable, more comfortable, and even more pleasant?
When we are ungrateful or forget to be thankful, it is only because we may have developed a sense of entitlement, or simply expect others to always be fulfilling their responsibilities, as a matter of course. Do we show our appreciation for a job well done?
Are we deserving of all that we have? Even if we worked hard for what we have or what we claim to “own”, we have to remember that only when God allows good things to happen, will they happen. All we need to do is to look around us, and see that there are people who work harder and even smarter than us, but we seem to be more “rewarded” and “gifted” for our efforts and ideas.
Shouldn’t we have an attitude of gratitude?
My dearest Michael and family,
Why do we attend Holy Mass? Why do we adore Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament? Why do we visit the grotto of our Blessed Mother? Why do we have our prayer meetings? Why do we pray?
It is not only to participate in the celebration and the sharing of God’s Body and Blood, nor is it only to ask for more favors and blessings (as I frequently do), nor is it just to commune with family members and other members of the body of Christ, nor is it only to develop a deeper personal relationship with the Lord, but it also to thank Him for His grace, mercy, love and compassion for us!
Continue to be grateful, to nurture an attitude of gratitude.
Let us pray:
Psalm 136:1-5
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for His steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for His steadfast love endures forever;
to Him who alone does great wonders,
for His steadfast love endures forever;
to Him who by understanding made the heavens,
for His steadfast love endures forever.”