I read an article on the fact that expressing gratitude, even when you don’t think there is a lot to be grateful for, will make you grateful and happier. If you are a frequent reader of Daily Virtue, you know that most of my reading references come from articles written by Fr. Ron Rolheiser, for which I am eternally grateful, and this post comes from one such article on gratitude. The article tells us that some people are more naturally grateful than others, which comes from having a particular gene. We can actively choose to practice gratitude, which will make us happier. The brain takes that grateful attitude, even when you can’t see much to be thankful for, and processes it into happiness. Choosing to focus on good things makes you feel better than focusing on the bad. It also brings out the best in others around us. How do we make gratitude a routine, something that is part of our everyday living? We start with interior gratitude, which then becomes exterior expressions to others. Gratitude is the main point of the gospel on this Thanksgiving Day. This gospel story only appears in Luke as he stresses the theme of universalism. All can be saved, which was not the belief of the Jews at that time. Luke has already told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Remember how Jews despised Samaritans as not being really faithful. Now, there is another good Samaritan. This one is good not so much for what he did but because he realizes what God has done and responds in gratitude. Ten were healed, but the story tells us one was saved. The incident is about how the healing gratitude became the moment of salvation. Luke wants us to see how Jesus’ mission was to all, even those not like us. Thanksgiving is at the basis of faith in God. It is the profound realization that all I am and have is from God, and my whole life must be lived as a response to that to win my salvation. When you think about it, we all have much to be grateful for. We are incredibly blessed. To be thankful is to be a person of faith because we recognize where everything comes from. It is expressed in how we live our lives, recognizing God’s gift to us and becoming “gift” to others.