February 1: An Attitude of Gratitude

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which has given to you by Christ Jesus. - 1 Corinthians 1:4

How we love to hear words of appreciation! If you've ever felt taken for granted, you understand the importance of expressing appreciation to those around you. Whether it's the mom who hopes to hear, "Thanks for the great dinner, Mom" or a hardworking employee who wonders if his diligence is noticed, everyone needs to hear that he or she is appreciated.



The encouragement that comes from the expression of appreciation nurtures our souls. This attitude of gratitude is so only one returned to say thank you. The one who came back to Jesus told a special parable just to emphasize it.

Remember the ten lepers in Luke 17? Ten were healed, but only one returned to say thank you. The one who came back to Jesus to express his gratitude is the one Jesus commends as exemplary. As you look around, you will see people in your life who have gone out of their way to invest in you, to provide for you, or to be a blessing to you. Take a moment today to thank them.

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Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. - Unknown