Often, our faith is measured by our attitude of gratitude. We often tend towards big things, and we end up neglecting important things. We reserve our gratitude for the ‘all expense paid meal at an exquisite hotel’ and never for the rain that made the food grow; we prefer to be grateful for the lump sum of money that is wired to our account by our rich parents than that poor aunty who calls to check on us. Here is even something more intriguing: An attitude of gratitude will never demand gratitude from others for acts of benefaction, but will even focus on being grateful that the benefaction was received by the recipient. Yet the recipient is never free not to be grateful because gratitude is obligatory. If you prefer not to be grateful, then it is better for you to reject any gift or good deed or service outrightly. And in being obligatory, gratitude – as a virtue – helps us to become good persons.

When was the last time I was truly grateful? How grateful am I for little things? What was the object of my latest gratitude?