By Most Rev. Lumen Monteiro, CSC, D.D, Bishop of Agartala —
What does one do 18 times a minute, 1800 times an hour and 25,920 times a day and rarely be conscious of it? The answer is ‘breathe’. And each of these breaths is a measured gift from God. But how often have we thanked God?
On the fourth Thursday of November every year America celebrates Thanksgiving Day, a practice that has come down from the 17 century. Thanksgiving Day is also celebrated in different parts of the world. Though the meaning, date and customs may vary, they all still revolve around the concept of thankfulness. Thanksgiving has been defined as an expression of gratitude, especially to God. I’m of the opinion that thanksgiving should not be confined to a day but to a way of life; [even though I myself am writing this piece keeping in mind the end of the calendar year, a time to say Thank You Lord!]
But gratitude is an attitude. Genuine thankfulness is the wellspring of godliness. People who truly see their unworthiness of God’s favour and are filled with gratitude to God cannot be proud, discontented, selfish, unforgiving, or hateful. A grateful person is also a humble person.
So let us develop a grateful heart, one that recognises the gifts of God and turns it into a thankful heart; one that glorifies God. The last day of December provides us a good opportunity to thank God for his numerous blessings during the year that is about to close.
There’s a story of a pastor who, looking back over his life marveled at the goodness of the Lord to him, said, “I don’t know if I am finishing well, but I am certainly finishing thankful.” Such must be our thoughts at the end of the year. The Book of Psalms is filled with songs of thanksgiving and Psalm 136 is one such Psalm. Let us join the Psalmist in praising God, and also praying for a heart that will always remain grateful.
In less than a month we will be celebrating the joyous feast of Christmas and a week later will be New Year’s Day. Let me take this occasion to wish all our Readers a joy-filled Christmas Season and a Happy New Year 2018.
This article is carried with permission from CBCI