A Spirit of Gratitude

Something I’ve noticed at wedding receptions is how many people head straight into the dining area while staff is still setting up, in order to find their spot for dinner.  They often think they need to reserve their spot ahead of time, as if there is not going to be enough seats for everyone.  Seeing this makes me think of how entitled people think they are.  Are we grateful for all of the blessings we have in life or have we just come to expect them, feeling entitled to them?

It’s not hard to notice the sense of entitlement present today among people and maybe even within ourselves.  Whether it’s a student who is demanding that a professor gives back missed points on an exam, people expecting a certain salary, or people assuming they will always have good health, it’s easy to fall into the mindset of expecting everything to be handed to us.  However, any good thing we have is a gift from God.  God does not owe us anything yet he gives us everything.

In today’s gospel, we read the story of Jesus multiplying the five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand.  He turned very little into an abundance.  And God does that all of the time; showing us an abundance of blessings out of the little bit we have.  We may not witness big miracles like the feeding of the five thousand but if we open our eyes we can see God bringing blessings into our lives that we would not have without Him.
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We might think that because “we are good people and work hard” we will find success and have everything we want.  We may believe that everything we have in our lives that is good is due to our own hard work and determination.  It’s important to work hard and make good choices.  But, apart from God, we can do nothing.  Everything we have is not solely from our own doing, including our gifts and talents.  All that He gives us is truly a gift.

​Every day, may we remember to be grateful and pray:

Good and gracious God, help me to remember that everything I have is a gift from you.  Give me a spirit of gratitude rather than entitlement.  Help me to see all of the blessings in my life.  When I think I deserve certain things, show me that ultimately, your love is enough and it is the greatest blessing I could ever experience.  Open my eyes and my heart to see you working in my life.  Amen.