Throughout the years we see new things come and old things go. Most of the time we are happy to see some old things fade away and the new come in to our lives. For example, anytime an older gadget is "out of date" we can't wait to see that new model be announced so that we can update our collection. However, this isn't always beneficial to us, in fact, sometimes, its to our disadvantage.

Just like gadgets and "stuff" there have been some other things in life that have come and gone. The things I'm referring to now are characteristics that we should not be happy to see fade away, in fact we should strive to keep them alive and well. One of these virtues that I recently spoke to our students about is the forgotten virtue of "GRATITUDE".

I recently read a story about a college professor who had been on his campus for just one semester. One semester was all it took for him to realize something was off with this younger generation. So he decided to do a study of his own. He went around and gathered some information from the older generations. He asked them one simple question, "What word, that begins with the letter E, would you use to describe the younger generations?" The answers he received were all very close to the same, almost 100%. Then he decided to poll the younger generations. He asked them the same question, about themselves. The answers he received were a little different, energetic, excellent, exciting, enthusiastic, eager, etc. It was at that time he decided to reveal to them what the older generation said. "ENTITLED" When the older generation looks at the younger generations they see people who feel like we deserve it all without having to earn it. It is because of that we can conclude that there is a loss of appreciation, thankfulness and gratitude.

Although the younger generation was the antagonists in this story, I would like to suggest that this problem exists in all generations. Maybe not about the same things as in the poll, but rather about our relationship with God. When was the last time you simply stopped to thank God. Not ask him for something, or complain about something but rather just glorify His name and thank Him for who He is and what He has done? I feel like some of us are good at this and some of us, well ... we're just not.



Let's look at Luke chapter 17:

11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”



Jesus heals ten but only one comes back to show his appreciation, his gratitude?!?! What is that all about? Yet ... don't we do that? We follow the crowd and leave behind our thankfulness. So my question is simple ...

Will YOU be the ONE? Will you be different? Will you decide to love God in any and every situation. Will you take the challenge of looking at your many blessings and pouring back to God the gratitude He deserves? Maybe that's where we should start. Maybe each of us should make a "BLESSINGS INVENTORY". Sit down and write down all of the many blessings in your life. The more aware we are of what God has done for us, the better we can be at being thankful.

Will you be the one?