By Deacon Royce Winters

A phrase from the movie "Forrest Gump" that says "life is like a box of chocolates" didn't have much meaning when I saw the movie for the first time. And I never thought I would be using it as the first sentence for my reflection on "how has gratitude brought me closer to the Lord?"

When I choose to eat chocolate, it is either filled with caramel or it covers a salty peanut. I've always wondered why the assorted boxes of chocolates are never labeled, so that one could choose the one they really wanted. There is nothing more disappointing than biting into a piece of chocolate filled with cherry cr�me or a hazelnut or anything other than caramel or a salty peanut.

But life can be like a box of chocolates, for you never know what's inside when you take a bite. And living can be filled with disappointments, hardships and trials. There are times when those trials take away the joy of living. I can count the number of times in my life when I've said, "Lord, why me?" I've never received an answer to the question. Now, others have told me that the answer is, "Why not you?" I don't like that particular answer!

In life, there are times when you don't like the answers. I remember walking into the doctor's office to get test results, and he said, "I hate to tell you this, you have prostate cancer." And I thought, "I hate for you to tell me, Doc." It was surreal, because I didn't come to the doctor's office to be given bad news, and before leaving home I had told my wife there was no need for her to accompany me to the office. And yet, as soon as I heard the word "cancer," I thought, "Oh, no, before you say anything else, I need to call my wife, for I'm here all alone."

And immediately, these words from an old hymn came to mind:

When In affliction's valley I tread the road of care,

My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to bear;

Though all around me is darkness, and earthly joys are flown,

My Savior whispers His promise never to leave me alone.

Our ability to be thankful is directly related to our ability to reflect and to remember the various ways in which we've tasted the goodness of the Lord. And at that point in my life, I understood the gift of remembering. Through faith, I was able to look back on my life to count the blessings and to thank God for all He had done.

I could thank God for my wife and children; I could thank God for my parents and siblings; I could thank God for the opportunities He's given me to know Him more and more. The ability to reflect and to remember the showers of blessings that God had poured out into this cup had led me to know gratitude. In being thankful, I've found a way to enjoy life no matter the reason - for everything has its own season.

The acknowledgment of God's mercy and grace - God's love and power sustains in me a praise of thanksgiving to the living God.

Gratitude has led me to a deeper understanding of God's word; gratitude has helped me to be more present to those in need; gratitude has added a treasure of riches that I could share in ministry, work and play. The ability to be thankful has led me to having a sense of rootedness. The winds may blow and the seas may rage, but the calming assurance of never being alone has led me to having a closer relationship with Jesus.

Being thankful has led me to sing a song with more meaning and to pray with the needs of the community on my mind. And again, an old hymn comes to mind:

How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me

Things so undeserved, yet you give to prove your love to me

And the voices of a million angels cannot express my gratitude

All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to thee.

To God be the glory for the things He has done!

(Deacon Winters is director of the archdiocesan Office of African American Ministries.)