In a small town, a rich man met a homeless man. He felt sorry for him, so he took him in and cared for him. The older man sat on a bench in front of the little house that the rich man had given him, and he would talk to everyone who passed by. He was most happy when he could express his gratitude and tell everyone who passed by about the man who had taken him in. He, the wealthy man in that high-walled house, lives as a kind gentleman who takes care of me. Do you see these clothes? They are from him. I got everything I have on from him.
I have more in the house. Do you see this little house? He gave it to me and said that I could live in it for free. I have everything I need from him.” The older man was happy to talk about the extraordinary kindness of his benefactor. Can we also speak with gratitude and joy to everyone we meet about our benefactor, the Lord Jesus? Do people notice that we are happy and satisfied? Let us tell them that we have everything from Him. Let us tell them who provides us with everything we need for life. Let us talk about what wealth we have in Him. He will enrich everyone who comes to Him. He cannot enrich those who are rich in themselves; there is no room for him there. A complete vessel cannot hold any more. Let us boast in our Lord; let us tell people about Him and what God has given us in Him.
Luke captured for us the joy that gushed from the Virgin Mary: “My soul magnifies the Lord…” That joy, which now belonged only to her, was soon to become the common joy of all.
Nature always caused the painter Ludwig Richter a special joy. He admired God’s glory in His creation. He painted with this attitude of heart. But in the last years of his life, he became blind, and people sincerely pitied him because he could no longer see any of it. A friend, who had walked with the blind man in the garden, asked him if it was not difficult to see no longer the flowers he had once loved. “Oh,” said Richter with a smile, “when I go out into nature in my memory, I find any flower in bloom. I think about my long life and pluck one flower after another in my wonderful memories until they become a magnificent bouquet: all the evidence of the grace of my God and Savior, which my inner sight cannot see enough of. And I thank Him, and thank Him!” Let us learn from the Virgin Mary to glorify God and to express thanks for gifts and graces. Let us weave a bouquet of gratitude from them!
Visitors counter: 90
