Gratitude

 

After Mass last week I got to thinking about what produces gratitude and its different levels that we feel and experience. 

The more casual occasions are frequent and easy to identify, like when you are in traffic and someone lets you in when you want to change lane or make a turn; or where someone providing a service goes beyond what is expected. We can feel a momentary appreciation and typically respond with thanksgiving, grateful for the courtesy shown. 

Where a situation is more critical, we tend to have a deeper gratitude, when someone saves your life with timely CPR during a heart attack or more so, when the assistance is sacrificial as when a relative donates a kidney to extend his loved one’s life. 

And yet, in the most crucial drama imaginable we tend to be quite aloof and unappreciative. When God created us and breathed life into our immortal souls, inviting us into fellowship with the Trinity and the offer of eternal bliss should we choose it ...you would think that would elicit gratitude. That Jesus came into the world and sacrificed himself to save us from sin and the damnation we would otherwise receive… still a distinct lack of gratitude. And then the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we received and can avail of every day to keep us on the straight path ... we should be dancing in the streets with joy and thanksgiving. 

Maybe we are myopic and insensitive to these incredible gifts or undervalue what is holy and eternal in favour of the material in the present moment. 

Perhaps for lent we could begin to be grateful for what has been given by God, to thank Him daily, to appreciate what we cannot see or is yet to be realised, as well as the many tangible gifts and blessings we have already received.