Beneath the glow of early summer skies, we are invited to pause. June stretches out with days of sunlight and growth. The season urges us to take inventory of more than tasks or ambitions. It is a remembrance of what has been given to us. A gentle call to a quiet and persistent gratitude. This call is also a call to humility. For one does not exist without the other. Thankfulness roots us in a reality that is not self-made, and humility becomes the soil from which true praise springs, transforming our lives in ways we may not have imagined.
As we consider the teachings of Our Lord and Saviour, we find a profound image in the home of Simon the Pharisee. A woman, unnamed yet unforgettable, breaks through societal barriers not with eloquence but with tears. She kneels, weeping at Our Lord's feet, washing them with her hair and anointing them with ointment. Simon offers no water, no kiss, no oil. But the woman provides everything. Our Lord turns to Simon and says, "Seest thou this woman I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head...Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little" (Luke 7:44, 47). In this moment, we see a theology of gratitude that does not come from abundance or moral success but from mercy received and remembered.
Do not look at gratitude as merely a virtue of politeness. Gratitude is a spiritual reflex to the recognition of grace. And grace, by its very nature, is undeserved. This is why the woman in Luke's narrative responds with such intimate reverence; she knows the weight of her forgiveness and returns it not with speeches but with surrendered love. Thankfulness is an orientation of the soul. An orientation that transforms our engagement with others and Our Lord.
Most of what sustains us in life has come to us from beyond ourselves. We did not birth our breath, author our salvation, or orchestrate the countless interlocking events that led us to grace. Humility, then, is not thinking less of oneself but thinking truthfully about oneself. It is a decision to live as one who knows they stand on holy ground, not because they climbed there, but because they were invited. This invitation extends to all areas of life, even those touched by success or status.
Humility is not found in feigned modesty or external piety but in internal clarity. As Paul writes elsewhere, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3). Sobriety of thought is the companion of humility, and gratitude is its breath. The humble soul breathes in the memory of mercy and breathes out the fragrance of thanksgiving.
For the believer, the rhythm of gratitude and humility is not a seasonal discipline but a daily recalibration. It is easy, especially in seasons of abundance or recognition, to forget the source of all things. But thankfulness draws us back, back to the moment we first knew forgiveness. Back to the cross, back to Our Lord and Saviour's feet. And in that place of memory and awe, humility is not a burden. It is a joy. It is the joy of saying, "Not I, but Christ in me" (Galatians 2:20). It is the joy of remembering that everything is a gift. This realization brings us immense pleasure and upliftment, filling our hearts with a profound sense of happiness and contentment.
Let the stars above you, and the air around you become reminders that life itself is an unearned treasure. And let your soul return to the feet of Our Lord, not with mere words, but with gratitude made visible. For in this holy exchange, we are changed. We become not just thankful but humble.
Share the Blessing
Thank you for spending time with us in reflection today. By recognizing Our Lord's hand in all things, both the blessings and the challenges, we can grow in faith and live with a heart full of thankfulness. If this devotional has blessed you, we encourage you to share it with others needing rest and peace. Let's continue to support one another in our pursuit of spiritual renewal by spreading the message of His peace.
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Together, let us journey toward deeper reflection and rest in Our Lord. May you walk in wisdom and light, always guided by His truth. In Jesus' name, Our Lord and Saviour.
