“Gratitude: The Greatest of Virtues”

There are two ways at looking at everything. A piece of apple pie was delicious or it was not. The cup is half empty or half full. The student passed the bar or he failed. The car is a good buy or it’s a lemon.

There were two prisoners in the same jail cell. One looked out the window and saw only mud. The other looked out the same and saw the stars.

A grandmother faithfully sent her gifts to her grandchild, but never received a thank you. Finally she decided there was only ingratitude so she stopped sending her gifts. Ingratitude cuts off goodwill, saps a life source, and brings benevolence down to zero. Leroy Satchel Paige says, “Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.”

Jesus healed ten lepers. Only one returned an gave thanks. “Where are the other nine?” he asked.

Gratitude, on the other hand, is life giving. Henry Ward Beecher says, “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.’ Cicero says, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

There is power in gratitude. The mere phrase Thank You carries in its nature, a feeling that is heart warming, an appreciation, and an acknowledgment with wings. Gratitude recognizes the giver with honor, respect, and reverence. The psalmist knew this well, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving. Give thanks to him, bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4).

So this Thanksgiving, as difficult as our times may be, let us be thankful. One writer, name unknown, suggests: Be thankful for the mess after the party, it means you have friends. The taxes we pay means we are employed. Piles of dirty laundry and ironing means we have a job. When the morning light breaks the dark, it means you can see; many are blind. The faith you have is a treasure to behold, many in the world believe not.

So I say, let us give thanks to God. There are more blessings than our mathematics can account for.


Dennis Ginoza
Pastor, Fallbrook United Methodist Church