At 65 years of age, he labors with the best of them, and yet on this Labor Day, I looked over, and for the second time in our day, my husband was standing at the sink washing dishes. Gratitude seems to be a fleeting response to the blessings God has given. In His goodness, he has placed particular people in our lives as loved ones, friends, and neighbors. Will we stop today to thank the Lord for all He has done? And what about those closest to us? Do we take them for granted? Do we acknowledge their reflection of God’s loving-kindness? Gratitude is vital in relationships.
2 Timothy chapter three speaks of a time when “people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
A decade or more ago, our culture rapidly shifted to self-fulfillment and personal happiness as the definition of “Life is Good.” We have become an accurate illustration of 2 Timothy chapter three. My parents and in-laws (the sacrificial living “greatest generation”) would find it shameful that society as a whole approaches life with a self-serving attitude.
People are increasingly more demanding, less respectful, and less appreciative. An attitude of entitlement is not healthy, and sadly, when narrowed down to today’s relationships, most are strained from living self-focused.
In our hurried lives, we take some of the most thoughtful gifts and the closest relationships for granted. A simple “thank you” shows that we recognize that we’ve received something the giver was not obligated to give. It guards against an attitude of self-centeredness and entitlement. When no gratitude is shown, the giver feels unappreciated and may become reluctant to show kindness again.
We would do well to reflect on the value of where God has placed us and those near us. Dear to us. And let them know their value. May we slow down long enough to consider how we might love God through loving others well.
Gratitude is important not only in human relationships but also in our relationship with God. David, the Psalmist, knew about this. He noted the beautiful things God did and continually expressed appreciation for them. David said Let us thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! And let us offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! May we take the time to have a conversation with God today:
Are your prayers full of thanksgiving? When you awoke and saw the sun shining this morning, did you give thanks? When you went to your closet, and it was full of clothes, did you give thanks? When you turned the key to your car and your children came running, did you give thanks? Did you give thanks when you were driving and were cut off in traffic?
I Thessalonians 5:18 says, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Debbie Swindell 