TO BE THANKFUL
“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.
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 3:01 am
Hoping you and your family have a grateful day as well, oops I mean life. It has been a blessing to get to “know” you this past year.
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 6:57 am
Thanks, Bill. It has been a blessing for both of us. Thanks for your heart and diligence. Happy Thanksgiving.
Lisa notes
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 6:56 am
“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.”
Ooh, I like that. Very true. When we do what God wants us to do, he blesses us with more than we could have imagined.
Hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 6:59 am
Thanks, Lisa. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well. God bless.
tcavey
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 6:56 am
I echo your prayer and sentiment.
With each passing year I find I’m more and more thankful. It’s so humbling to know God and to be known by Him.
Honored to know you. God bless and have a a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 7:00 am
Thanks, TC. I’m honored as well and our Father is lifted up. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours… Hope you’re getting some work done on that book!
tcavey
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 9:11 am
A little work…hoping next week will be even more productive. Getting excited about it, making some needed edits and adding some great sections…thanks for your help/advice. When I hit big, I’ll make sure to include you in the acknowledgement section 🙂
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 10:07 am
Good for you! I hope you do hit it big! I’m honored to be a very small part of it. It’s gonna be great!
April
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 7:36 am
Happy Thanksgiving!
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 12:19 pm
Thanks, April. Same to you and all of yours. Give Stephen a hug for me, tell him his Christian family in Arizona says, “Hey.” God bless.
Diane
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 9:09 am
I purposely came over to tell my coach Happy Thanksgiving – to you and your family. I also knew I’d find words of wisdom. I am truly grateful to have “met” you through your blog this year. My life is enriched. Thank you, Floyd, for your wonderful writing. God bless you and your family! Enjoy your time together.
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 10:06 am
Oh man… You’re too good to me, Diane. You certainly have the gift of encouragement to go with your wisdom. You and your family have been a blessing to me and mine as well. What a gift we have through our Father! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and may God bless you abundantly!
Dan Black
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 5:43 pm
We both have a lot to be grateful for! It’s a blessing to have you as a friend and brother in the Lord. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 6:38 pm
Thanks, Dan. We do indeed have a lot to be grateful for. And I too am grateful for the family and friend in you. Happy Thanksgiving, Brother.
Hazel Moon
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 6:30 pm
Perhaps it is partially out of habit, but I find myself saying the words “Thank you Jesus.” Usually as I lie down at night and then when I get up in the morning.
We learned manners at school in our day, at home too, but not everyone had a good home life as I did. Having a greatful heart in important and remembering to say please when we pray – I must remember that!
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 6:40 pm
We certainly were blessed, Hazel. I too have to remind myself to say please as I pray for what isn’t mine. I also need to remember that even after God grants it, it still belongs to Him… It’s a blessing and a responsibility. Happy Thanksgiving, Hazel! Greet Robert for me. God bless.
Nancy
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
I was thinking about something as I read your timely post.
Practicing Thankfulness, changes one’s focus. After all, it is about becoming less concentric.
“Thank you” to an individual, brings the focus of honor to that person, and away from what we have obtained, received or want.
“Thank you ” to God switches the focus from us to Him.
To remain God-focused, therefore requires that we remain in genuine thanksgiving.
It is all habit, isn’t it – training our flesh. Of course, submitting to the Holy Spirit gets easier as we grow.
Blessings for a Great day of observed Thankfulness!
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 7:25 pm
Great minds think alike! Although, the mind that we can’t begin to grasp is the One that speaks to our spirit and put you and I on the same wave length. That’s a great observation, Nancy. Being truly thankful does take the focus off of the thankful person. May we be ever so grateful to our heavenly Father everyday. And also thankful for the friends and family in Christ that He places in our lives to shed blessing on one another. Thank you for your part. I’m thankful for you and your family as well. God bless and Happy Thanksgiving, Nancy. Tell Randy I said “hey.”
Ngina Otiende
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 7:27 pm
I love the nuggets in this post Floyd. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Floyd
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 @ 9:42 pm
Thank you, my sister. May God bless you and yours as well. We are one in Him… What a thing to give thanks for! Happy Thanksgiving, Ngina.
Betty Draper
Friday, November 23, 2012 @ 5:05 pm
It does pay to practice manners at a young age. Everyone comments on how much of a gentleman our son is and he will always thatis how my parents taught me to be. With all of us it takes a little living and growing up before practice becomes facts.
Nancy has something in her comment, true thankfulness takes the focus off the one giving thanks, wisdom. Paul had to train his flesh…yeah practice pays off. Great post Brother.
Floyd
Saturday, November 24, 2012 @ 7:46 am
Thanks, Betty. I agree completely. It’s amazing the wisdom that shows up on this site! Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving.
Saleslady371
Saturday, November 24, 2012 @ 3:37 pm
I don’t want thankfulness to become rote either, Floyd. I want it from my heart every day. It helps me to see others thanking. This time of year with all the testimonies of God’s faithfulness and believers’ gratefulness makes my spirit feel like its on steroids. You are a blessing in my life. Keep writing.
Floyd
Saturday, November 24, 2012 @ 5:06 pm
Thanks, Mary. I too appreciate the acts of heart by others. It’s inspiring. Thanks too for the kind words. God bless.
Maureen Jepchumba
Monday, November 26, 2012 @ 6:57 am
“Acting in thanks” that’s one part of being grateful that I need to work on. Thanks for sharing this Floyd. Hope Thanksgiving continues on!
Floyd
Monday, November 26, 2012 @ 7:09 am
Thanks, Maureen. Well said. That should be the root of our actions. I’ll continue to give Thanksgiving and thanks for the insight.