In today’s world of instant gratification, do we accept the difficulties of life as something we should be grateful for?
The first words we learn to say aside from “mama” and “papa,” are “please” and “thank you.”Feelings of gratitude are triggered off by the receipt of something good. We are grateful for the food we eat, the things we accumulate ,the children we have, and the success we achieve.
But is gratitude limited to the good things we receive in this world? When you lose someone you love, or work under oppressive conditions, or suffer from an illness, can you be grateful?
1Thessalonians5:18 says “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” To give thanks for pain or tragedy is something we cannot do without the power of the Holy Spirit. The natural response to difficult situations is angeror bitterness. But with faith, even ifit be as small as a mustard seed, we will be able to endure all with the light of hope.
So when you feel that things are not working out in your life, pray and if you are praying, pray even more and be grateful for all experiencesin life – even the most difficult ones.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 136:1-26)
Santuario de San Antonio Parish 