On GRATITUDE
November has been accorded as the Thanksgiving month, a traditional celebration which starts from the West. But of course thanksgiving is not just about the celebration. It’s the humble recognition of man’s nothingness as timely met by God’s bounty.
So, how should we be truly thankful? The story of one grateful person in the Bible sure does gives life-lessons for every one of us. Luke 17 tells an event in Jesus’ time when he healed 10 men with leprosy. In their time, these lepers were considered the outcast of the society because of their contagious disease. When they called out to Jesus for healing, he told them to go and show themselves to their temple leaders. While on their way, the men got healed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, threw himself at his feet, and thanked Him. Then Jesus addressed the question, where are the other nine? Jesus later emphasized that the grateful man was a Samaritan, a considered enemy or an outsider, by the Jewish people.
From this Samaritan’s life, it is evident that gratitude does not care about title, race or nation. It comes from a humble heart, who acknowledged he needs help and gives due credit to the One who extended help. In this season of Thanksgiving, may we learn that while gratefulness is an important character to develop, genuine gratitude takes its root from a humble heart. When you let God know you are thankful, or when you tell other people you’re grateful of them, let it only come from the heart humbled by the love, mercy and grace of Christ. :)
So, how should we be truly thankful? The story of one grateful person in the Bible sure does gives life-lessons for every one of us. Luke 17 tells an event in Jesus’ time when he healed 10 men with leprosy. In their time, these lepers were considered the outcast of the society because of their contagious disease. When they called out to Jesus for healing, he told them to go and show themselves to their temple leaders. While on their way, the men got healed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, threw himself at his feet, and thanked Him. Then Jesus addressed the question, where are the other nine? Jesus later emphasized that the grateful man was a Samaritan, a considered enemy or an outsider, by the Jewish people.
From this Samaritan’s life, it is evident that gratitude does not care about title, race or nation. It comes from a humble heart, who acknowledged he needs help and gives due credit to the One who extended help. In this season of Thanksgiving, may we learn that while gratefulness is an important character to develop, genuine gratitude takes its root from a humble heart. When you let God know you are thankful, or when you tell other people you’re grateful of them, let it only come from the heart humbled by the love, mercy and grace of Christ. :)
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