GRATITUDE OF A “LEPER”

Recently I met the leprosy victim, with whom I chat with, once in a while. His attitude towards life and living with all the problems he has, is a challenging lesson for all of us. He has a broken right hip; fractured and always paining left knee; every present health issues; severe problems with his son-in-law; is denied rightful share in the father’s property, by his elder brother’s family. All this, apart from the 90% deformity due to leprosy and all that comes with it. Yet, this man is so full of gratitude and thankfulness to God, and His ever so faithfulness, goodness, grace and mercy. How could he be so full of gratitude?

It is silly to ask such a question, if not stupid. This is what I have understood from my interaction with this man. He is thankful and grateful to God because he understood life, its futility and the human heart. Much more than that, he grasped who God is, and His goodness and grace, in the light of human wickedness and fallenness, and our own incurable sinfulness. This is all what we need to know and realise.

When we realise our own sinfulness and the fallenness of human beings, and understand the grace and mercy of God towards such people, then nothing else comes out of our mouths, except, praise, thankfulness and gratitude.

Paul says, “11 …for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:” – Philippians 4:11. How about us, who are “healthy” and “wealthy?” What kind of attitude are we displaying, and what kind of words come out of our mouths? May the LORD help us to always be grateful and thankful to Him.