Listen

“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.”

Matthew 5:5

Think

In elementary school, when it gets close to Thanksgiving, teachers often ask students to write or draw what they’re thankful for. As we get older, we may not stop and think about thankfulness much. Instead of focusing on what we’re thankful for, we fixate on what we don’t have. We’re jealous that someone else has what we want, or we’re arrogant because we have what other people want.

Jesus says, “Happy are people who are humble.” One way to think about humbleness is to think about thankfulness. When we’re thankful, we pay attention to the things we do have or can do, the gifts of each day. Being thankful helps us remember the people who have helped us along the way, instead of becoming conceited. Focusing on what we’re thankful for shifts our focus away from ourselves and changes our attitude toward people and things. “Happy are people who are humble,” because they are thankful, and true gratitude keeps them from jealousy, arrogance, and comparison.

Laura Edgar

Question to Ponder:

What are you thankful for today?

Pray

God, thank you for….

Help me to learn to be humble by being thankful. Teach me to pay attention to all the gifts of today and to give thanks for them.

Amen.

Go

Do justice: pay attention to the needs around you.

Love kindness: take action in big and small ways to help others.

Walk humbly: be confident in God’s love for you, and remember God’s love for everyone.