By Olubunmi Adebayo
*After an encounter with 10 lepers in Lk 17, Jesus Christ made one of the most profound statements that has kept ringing and kept having meaning from that time till this present moment. He said :*
*”……Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (vs 17).*
*”There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger”.(vs 18).*
*Many people know how to ask and receive, but only a few know how to show appreciation.*
*Necessity, they say is the mother of invention, so is gratitude, the mother of what it takes to receive more and more from God and from men.*
*Please note and know that gratitude to God, and gratitude to man, should be a daily pattern of our lives.*
*Despite our poor attitude of gratitude, yet there are so many things to be daily grateful for in life.*
*This nature in man that only focuses on what is still outstanding before him that are yet to be met at the expense of what has already been met, is anti-human character and certainly not of God.*
*Have you taken your time to reflect on the fact that it is not everyone that goes out in the morning that returns back in the evening? Is it everyone that sleeps, that wakes up in the morning? Is it everyone that desires to eat a particular meal that succeeds in getting such a meal? Is it everyone that got admitted to a particular school that graduates at the end of the program? Is it everyone that marries that returns with the fruit of the womb as evidence of fruitfulness and productivity?*
*For any reason whatsoever, don’t ever assume or have it at the back of your mind that the examples cited above were meant to draw any inference of mockery or disparagement in their cases. God forbid that.*
*The examples are cited to remind each and everyone of us of the fact that we all have several reasons to be grateful for in life.*
*From the statement of Jesus Christ above, it was just one stranger- Samaritan, out of 10 that returned to give thanks to God. While the remaining 9, who were Jews never bothered about coming back to give gratitude.*
*Meaning that the closer you think you are to God, the less likely you will come around to say thank you to God. Whereas the fellow we feel are far from God are the ones that will likely show more gratitude to God.*
*Buttressing this line of argument that you should not quietly join in not showing gratitude to God, how many times have your son or daughter thanked you for taking him or her to school in the morning and returning back to pick them up in the afternoon?*
*But check out how grateful the son or daughter of your neighbour is after giving him or her a ride to school! He may even inform his parents to appreciate you for this.*
*Note that it sure does not take long to slide into ingratitude most times in life.*
*Sir, Ma, the list is endless for which you need to be grateful for in life.*
*Please note this : we are all at different levels of gratitude consciousness and expression. No matter your placement on the gratitude ladder however, you can always work on yourself for improvement in your attitude of gratitude.*
*The more grateful you are, the higher you will go at your achievable altitude. This is the simple truth of life. To think or act otherwise is nothing but ingratitude, pride or self delusion or sheer pomposity.*
Top of the day to you
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
