The Gospel tells us that, one day, walking the roads of the region, Jesus was approached by ten lepers. Leprosy persons, as best we might say today.

Carriers of the stigma that kept them away from home, the cities, the living men, they begged mercy of the Master of Nazareth.

Jesus directed them to show up to the priests. It happened that, as they walked, they realized that they were clean.

They were cured. That´s why Jesus remitted them to the priests. To have their names recorded again in the book of the living.

Happy, nine of them ran back to the arms of their loves, their affairs, their homes, even those who know their follies in life.

One, however, came back. He returned to thank the Master for the gift of healing. One only.

The fact is true, and today, as at that time, there are few hearts who cultivate gratitude.

Gratitude is a virtue that should be cultivated as a flower.

As children, we are taught to always be thankful for what we received: the gift, the toy, the chocolate, the candy.

Oddly, to the extent that we physically grow, we abandon this healthy way of showing gratitude.

There are so many ways to express gratitude. For example, after reading a good book, we could write to the author, telling of how well they did in their spelled words.

How it did us well that knowledge which was passed, thanks to his research. How he hold our attention the novel, the story, the examples cited.

We can express gratitude writing thank you letters to people who have done something good for us or for others.

How many of us have had their children blessed by a kind neighbor who, aware of the difficulties in our house, provided us what was considered superfluous, but so necessary for small ones: the chocolate, the cake, the ride.

We remember, ever, as adults, to offer him a card for birthday, Christmas, New Year?

A card remind him of how much we are grateful for those little things that made our little ones happiness.

How many of us have had the good fortune to attend private schools, training courses because someone, friend, relative, colleague handed in the necessary resources?

How many times have we exercise gratitude, expressing it with a treat, with a special visit?

How many of us took the phone to say thank you for you to exist, thank you for being my friend, thank you for the book you lent me, for the hours spent with me?

Thanks for the clothes that gave me, for taking me to ride, for having arranged the trip that I craved, the numerous rides in the days of cold and rain.

Thank you to the doctor to prescribe the correct medication that brought us back to health.

Thanks to the bus driver that leads us to the doorman who opens the door, the servant who brings the coffee.

Thank you, thank you.

Someone might state that the ideal man is one who likes to do favors. And expect nothing in return.

Yes. Good men are just like that. They serve and serve. And they grow with that.

If, in our turn, we want to grow and be happy, it is our duty to cultivate gratitude.

To thank the tenderness of someone, the trust, the friendship externalized.

When the gratitude dominates the feelings of the creature, life takes on beauty and happiness.

Try it!

Spiritist Moment Team.
July 11.2013.