Gratitude

Gratitude

 

Look around it is not the people with the most that are the happiest people

The happiest people are the people filled with gratitude

Those who give thanks in everything are happy in everything

Over this past year I have come

to know an amazing young man.

This man has lived a destructive life style

 (The Bible would call it a life of sin).

His addictions caused him to lose everything.

Recently, he posted on Facebook a list of

people he wanted to thank for supporting

and helping him with his recovery.

As I read my name on the list I

realized how truly grateful he is.

The Bible says… “Give thanks in

everything for this is the will of God.”

His gratefulness has translated into helping others.

His positive attitude in all circumstances has

been recognized by those who have helped him.

Recently, he was hired to help those,

like himself who are looking for help,

transitioning into the programs that helped him.

His life reminds me of the woman who

laid down a sinful life and turned to Jesus.

We find her washing Jesus’ feet.

Jesus points out a remarkable

truth in this woman when He says…

“…I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much.

But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

 

This woman loved much

because she was full of gratitude.

You see the gratitude of the sinful woman

and my friend started at ground zero.

They knew what it was to have

sin take away everything they had.

They did not view life as an entitlement or as a right.

What is so amazing about this woman

and my friend is at ground zero they “gave”.

The woman poured out perfume on Jesus’ feet.

My friend gave of his time to help me and others.

Ground Zero will always be

remembered as a place of destruction.

A place of total loss.

In the aftermath of 9/11/2001, most

Americans became grateful for what they had.

They selflessly turned to helping one another.

And together we rebuilt.

It wasn’t those who felt they were

entitled to something that rebuilt.

It was those who said if it wasn’t for the grace

of God we too would be lost in the rubble.

We should all remember that our greatest

hour is when we are cleaning up the rubble.

It is at that time we are the most grateful.

Let us be reminded of God’s warning to His people…

 

“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord,

who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

Deuteronomy 6:12

Look around it is not the people with

the most that are the happiest people.

The happiest people are the people filled with gratitude.

Those who give thanks in everything are happy in everything.

You and I don’t deserve a vacation,

we don’t deserve a raise,

we don’t deserve a break…

What we deserve is punishment for our sins.

Second chances only come because God is full of mercy.

Anything you and I have obtained comes

because God has shown favor (grace) on us.

Don’t forget ground zero and

don’t forget God’s love for you.

Scripture Reading

Luke 7:36-50 NIV

36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is — that she is a sinner."

40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

41 "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.   46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."