Only With Gratitude

“For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.” 1 Timothy 6:7-10

How appropriate is this letter of St. Paul to his younger coworker Timothy in this day and age. Indeed when we were born, we did not have a stitch of clothing on us. All we had was our breath to cry until our faces turned crimson! And when we die, no matter what we believe in, we will take nothing with us but what the grace of God allows us to bring. If we are blessed and have walked with Him, and made Him our friend, we will see Him face to face just as Abraham did. 

One of the best antidotes to not falling into the many traps in this world, is to take time each day to be intentionally grateful, to be content with what we have, and not feel the need to grasp for more, more, more. Jesus’ upside-down kingdom where it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), to be poor in spirit rather than to be rich in material things (Matthew 5:3), where the weak are strong (2 Corinthians 12:10), and the last are first (Matthew 2016), show us we have much to learn about the abundant life Jesus came to give us! 

There are a few daily exercises more effective than counting our blessings daily that can transform us deeply, that enables us to be more aware that as author and theologian Deitrich Bonhoeffer writes, “In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” Yes! Truly rich and abundant! 🎶🎶🎶