Gift of Gratitude

Today our Relief Society lesson was on the Gift of Gratitude. Usually when this is the subject for a lesson the story of the ten lepers come up. Today was no exception. When we did talk about it a neat perspective came to me that I'd never really thought about before.

When Christ was walking there were ten men who had leprosy. When they saw Christ they came and asked him to heal them. Leprosy is a disease that slowly degenerates the tissue and deforms the body. Those who had this disease were shunned by their family, friends, and the community. Christ told the Lepers to go to the priests and they would be healed. All ten of these suffering outcasts had the faith to be healed. Only one of the ten came back to Christ and showed his gratitude for the miracle. Christ then made the comment, "Where there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?"

I honestly don't think the other nine lepers were not grateful for what Christ did for them. They could have been so overcome with excitement and the joy of being able to return to their families and their life that they just forgot about thanking Jesus. I don't think Christ loved them any less than the one either, but we do know he was disappointed. This lesson that he teaches is a great one for me. Sometimes I find myself so caught up in daily duties and responsibilities. Or I am enjoying moments so much that I just forget that I should be outwardly thanking my Heavenly Father. I give thanks when I say my prayers but I need to work on expressing that gratitude out loud to my God who has given me everything and who is allowing me to enjoy such a wonderful life. I need to tell Clair where our blessings come from. I need to tell others the help I received through my Savior when I am given compliments.

I love this quote from President Monson...

"We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

Thomas S. Monson "The Divine Gift of Gratitude" November 2010 Ensign

I know that the more I work on expressing my gratitude I will realize what more I really have to be grateful for. It is just amazing isn't it. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ!