When I was new in the gospel I remember being puzzled a bit by the scriptural story of Christ’s healing of the lepers. You know the one…….many were healed but only one of them came back to say thanks. Jesus made it a point to inquire about the ones who hadn’t taken thought to thank him. What puzzled me was that Jesus even mentioned this. At first it seemed out of character to me. Jesus never wanted anything for himself…..certainly not public praise. Why would he be concerned? Was he offended? Did he want credit for the good he did? He saved ten people from a fate worse than death after all………were his feelings hurt that most of them never even looked back? Why did he care? After thinking hard about this I decided that there must be something about gratitude. There must be something in it for those who feel it……for those who express it. Christ wouldn’t have cared so much if there wasn’t. Yes, something important must be involved here.….something essential even. I began to “ponder” as they say.
I recalled one Friday….many years ago when I received a very special gift. As far as presents go it surely wasn’t fancy or expensive, but I’ve never forgotten how it made me feel. I remember leaving my classroom after a really difficult week……I can’t recall everything that made that week so hard but I was exhausted. I think the week involved three days of state testing for my kids, report cards and parent conferences late into the night, an irate colleague upset about something, kids in trouble, and endless faculty meetings that became scary when you realized that everyone battling it out in the current argument about lunch duty had a college degree. Anyway, I was leaving my classroom…..late again…. and as I locked the door I remember thinking that I hope my family didn’t need anything from me this weekend…..anything like patience, energy, kindness or an interest in any of their problems. Anything remotely resembling a functioning human being had been wrung out of me and was left in a puddle on that classroom floor. I had nothing left. I was running on empty, fumes even. As I turned the key I decided to cross the hall to check my mailbox before heading home. I flipped on the light in the dark mailroom and there in the wall of cubbies was the gift. In fact, in every mailbox there was a bright red apple and an envelope. I went to mine and opened the note. I read….“Thank you so much for all you do for our kids. We know it’s sometimes hard. You make a difference to them and to us.” It was signed… Grateful Parents.
Well, I’ve been given many gifts over the years, some expensive even, I’m sure. Most of them I can’t recall. But I’ll never forget that apple and the way it made me feel. As I opened the door to leave the mailroom the doom and gloom I’d been wallowing in began to lift a little. A lift… yes… there’s something about gratitude that lifts people, isn’t there?
I walked down the hallway heading to the parking lot and there outside the office door stood our dear principle talking to one of the staff. I knew his week had been even tougher than mine and I called, “Hey Sarge, have a good weekend,” as I passed. He looked up and with a big grin said, “Well, we’ve taken on a load of water and here it is Friday and we’re still afloat.” I chuckled and went out the door. Last time we’d had such a terrible week he’d said, “Well, here we’ve been shot at every day this week and we ain’t dead yet.” (Sarge was known for his wise and pithy counsel.) As I walked to my car I realized that even though he was joking I’d heard a note of genuine gratitude in the tone of his voice. He was only half kidding I think. He really was grateful to have made it through a tough week. He seemed tired but hopeful. He was looking forward to the weekend, to his family, and to his fishing pole probably. He wasn’t running on fumes…..he was ready to rest, fill up and have a great weekend. Yes ….there’s something about gratitude that changes our outlook…..that puts our life in a clearer light.
As I drove home I began to think about a story that I’d heard once in some church meeting. It was about a woman who’d been invited to a very special banquet held in her honor. She’d been given an engraved invitation which explained that all kinds of wonderful dishes were being prepared for her….all of her special favorites…..from lobster to strawberry shortcake. There was only one rule. She could take as much as she wanted from any of the dishes offered but she had to take at least one bite from all of them. On that special night she entered the beautiful banquet hall, gazed in amazement at all the dishes and then did the strangest thing. She took a crystal plate, placed it on a silver tray, and walked slowly up and down that laden banquet table. She passed by the lobster, strawberries, and all the luscious desserts that she adored and went straight to a covered dish at the end of the table. She lifted the lid and there was a dish of liver and onions. She knew the rule. At least one bite from everything offered. Then she began to cry……“ Liver and onions! I detest liver and onions! Then she did the strangest thing. She pulled up a chair in front of that dish and sat down. She filled her plate with a huge helping of the detested liver and holding her head in her hands cried louder and louder……Oh no, I can’t bear it! Oh no…..I hate liver and onions! Then she picked up her fork and began to eat.
The banquet workers couldn’t believe their eyes! She had passed by all of those wondrous things offered without seeming to notice. All the time, careful and loving preparation of those wonderful dishes had gone unnoticed as she sat in front of the one thing she hated.
Well, I guess there must be something about ingratitude too, something essential. It somehow distorts your vision, I think. It makes the blessings surrounding every one of us seem to disappear. It puts a magnifying glass on the negative and robs us of happiness and the ability to deal with life.
I know that woman. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been that woman a time or two in my life. I can tell you that she’s not happy eating only liver. I want to shake her and say “Look at all the beautiful strawberries and be grateful!”
More stories about gratitude coming up.
Very profound and very true! Thanks for the reminder:)
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