An Attitude of Gratitude
There’s a story in the bible about ten people with a debilitating illness who went to Jesus and, in desperation, asked for help. Jesus gave it, and miraculously cured their disease. Given the life changing nature of what had just happened, we would expect all ten to run back to Jesus and thank him, but only one could be bothered. That says something about human nature and the depths of human ingratitude. As soon we get what we want, we keep pushing forward, and don’t look back.
Ingratitude touches every part of life. For example, we can be ungrateful to our parents. There was a time in our lives when their lack of care or attention would have killed us, but the day comes when we see them as a nuisance, or an inconvenience, and we are unwilling to repay the debt we owe. We can be ungrateful to one another. At some time in our life, all of us have owed a lot to another person. Few of us, at that moment, believed we could ever forget, but few of us, in the end, satisfy the debt of gratitude we owe. They may have done something for us that is impossible to repay, but the tragedy is that we don’t even try. And, of course, we can be ungrateful to God. In times of desperate need we pray with intensity and passion for a miracle, but as time passes, we forget to thank him.
I had a quick look at the research on gratitude and quickly found studies describing multiple benefits. Here are just a few. Gratitude: makes us happier; increases psychological wellbeing; enhances positive emotions; increases self-esteem; keeps suicidal thoughts at bay; makes people like us; improves romantic relationships; improves friendships; strengthens family relationships; makes us more optimistic; increases spiritual well-being; reduces impatience and improves decision-making; reduces depressive symptoms; reduces blood pressure; and improves sleep. However, despite all the benefits, our natural tendency still seems to be ungrateful.
It doesn’t have to be like this. One man in the story was different. One man chose to come back to Jesus and say thank you. And in doing that, he received something greater than just physical healing. His relationship with God was transformed. Be like the one and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. The bible says, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things” (Psalm 103:1-5).
Neil Percival
Ingratitude touches every part of life. For example, we can be ungrateful to our parents. There was a time in our lives when their lack of care or attention would have killed us, but the day comes when we see them as a nuisance, or an inconvenience, and we are unwilling to repay the debt we owe. We can be ungrateful to one another. At some time in our life, all of us have owed a lot to another person. Few of us, at that moment, believed we could ever forget, but few of us, in the end, satisfy the debt of gratitude we owe. They may have done something for us that is impossible to repay, but the tragedy is that we don’t even try. And, of course, we can be ungrateful to God. In times of desperate need we pray with intensity and passion for a miracle, but as time passes, we forget to thank him.
I had a quick look at the research on gratitude and quickly found studies describing multiple benefits. Here are just a few. Gratitude: makes us happier; increases psychological wellbeing; enhances positive emotions; increases self-esteem; keeps suicidal thoughts at bay; makes people like us; improves romantic relationships; improves friendships; strengthens family relationships; makes us more optimistic; increases spiritual well-being; reduces impatience and improves decision-making; reduces depressive symptoms; reduces blood pressure; and improves sleep. However, despite all the benefits, our natural tendency still seems to be ungrateful.
It doesn’t have to be like this. One man in the story was different. One man chose to come back to Jesus and say thank you. And in doing that, he received something greater than just physical healing. His relationship with God was transformed. Be like the one and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. The bible says, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things” (Psalm 103:1-5).
Neil Percival