Our Catholic faith teaches us that by developing an attitude of gratitude we can empower ourselves to face any situation.
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Faith always provides a reason to be thankful. Notice that the scripture verse above does not say to be thankful for all things but to be thankful in all things. Even in the most difficult of circumstances you can find a reason for a thankful heart. An old saying goes “I complained because I had no shoes until I met a person who had no feet.” No matter what your circumstances, there is always a reason to be thankful if we only develop the eyes to see those reasons. Faith opens our eyes in this way.
Terry Foxe was a distance runner who started a run from one side of Canada to the other. He ran at least 42 kilometres a day to raise money for cancer research. He battled cancer himself, a battle that cost him one leg. So, he ran every kilometre on one leg. As he crossed the country reporters would interview him (often at the end of a tiring and painful day) and his typical response was “I don’t know about tomorrow, but God gave me another day to live, and I am thankful for each day I am alive”.
By yourself or with your family you might like to think about the following questions:
- What is the difference between being thankful for all circumstances and thankful in all circumstances?
- What are your circumstances now? How can faith open your eyes to a greater attitude of thankfulness?
Deacon Aaron Peters | Deputy Principal Catholic Identity & Mission
