TO BE THANKFUL

to be thankful

image courtesy High Falls Cafe and Google

“Did you say ‘thank you’?” I used to ask our daughters when I knew they hadn’t when it was appropriate. Out of habit I sometimes still do. That’s one of those passed down traditions of using manners. Most of us pick up on that process, it’s fairly easy… Following rules are the easy part. Understanding the foundation of desired actions is a little more involved process.

I can’t remember how many times I’ve said “please” and “thank-you’s” and didn’t really do it with heart or meaning… Maybe that’s okay, It wasn’t out of hypocrisy, it was out of habit. Not a bad one to have relatively speaking. Sometimes if we follow a habit the heart will follow. That’s kinda the hope with manners and I think it works pretty well.

The funny thing about practicing manners and doing it with the right heart and perspective is that it seems to be an action with supernatural consequences. In other words, being honest from the heart when we say “please” and “thank you,” seems to do something within us that surpasses human comprehension.

I also think it takes being humble in spirit to truly mean what we say when we are using our manners. Being humble allows us to see the world the way God intended for us to. That ugly old pride robs us of the supernatural realization or awareness of state of need and appreciation.

The New Testament uses a word to sum up the word “thanks.” The word is gratitude… Being truly grateful is the state of which we are not only feeling, but acting in thanks. I’m truly grateful for the handful of people who share this part of my life with me.

With all that’s wrong with our world, I’m still, and maybe even more so, grateful or give thanks to my heavenly Father that He is merciful and kind to His children. So in this season I pray that all of you would find the gratitude in your heart and express it to God for all He has done and will do. We are indeed blessed. Be thankful.

Have a Happy Grateful Giving! – I mean Happy Thanksgiving!

May God bless you and yours.