“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” (William Ward Quote)
As I was on my way to pick up some “Thank You” cards for the young students in our church’s tutoring ministry so that they could write notes of gratitude and appreciation to their teachers throughout the school year that is about to end, I had a thought. What was that thought? I’m glad you asked. Let me tell you. We often fail to express our thanks to people in our lives who have helped us in our development, hurried without any prompting or requesting to encourage us when we were going through a difficult time, and heaved us up from wrongly thinking that we are not fearfully and wonderfully made. Who are these people? Teachers whose paycheck does not stop them from paying for supplies out of their own pockets. Parents who do things for their children daily; things that require both time and energy. But they do it out of love. Grandparents who help the parents and sometimes actually spend more time molding and shaping the character of their grandchildren than their parents or they just fill in a void because of circumstances beyond the parent’s control. Spouses, both the husband and the wife, a couple that seems to be in an unannounced, loving, competition to see who can outdo each other in serving the one that God put in their lives. Friends who never abandoned you when the going gets tough, and in fact they lift up your spirit and things begin to seem not so rough. The church worker who some feel are just doing their job. The Human Resources person who counseled you and contributed to your journey toward success in the world of work. The person on the subway train who stood up to allow you to take a seat with your child, diaper bag, and stroller in hand. There is the police officer who you run into at the store or coffee shop, the doctor who monitors your health and gives you advice to prolong your life, and the one-in-a million greeter at the grocery store that says “Good morning” when you enter, and “Have a blessed day” when you leave with groceries in your hand. How about the stranger who volunteers to take your grocery cart back inside so you can get in the car? What about the relative who lives miles away, but always lets you know they are thinking of you. The list of people that we take for granted and never say “Thank You” to goes on and on. A real lesson to learn; “Don’t take them for granted!”
Let’s move from “people” to the “Persons” in our lives. The “Persons” being the three-in-one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Just think of all the thanks that they are due. To list all the reasons that we could thank the Lord, well, that would not be possible. But for this moment, think of how God deserves your thanks and lift your eyes toward heaven and say, “Thank You!” Think of His goodness to you and say, “Thank You!” “Think of how He watched your going out and coming back in and say, “Thank You!” Think of the many blessings, far too many to count, that God has provided for you and say, “Thank You!” Think about when He reminded you that no matter what “thing” you are going through, that He would never leave you nor forsake you, and that you are not in “this thing” alone. Then give thanks to the Lord! Say, “Thank You!” Say it like you mean it! Now that is a very real lesson to learn! And please note that real learning is only revealed in real action! But as a I started to say, this is a very real lesson to learn. “Don’t take them for granted.” Be blessed!
“I will raise my eyes to the mountains; From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who watches over you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your protector; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not beat down on you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time and forever.” (Psalm 121:1-8 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King