How much gratitude do you have?
Some of the commercials on television catch my attention but most of them do not. One that really stuck with me was when a young lady was leaving for college and her dad was telling her goodbye. The young lady jumped into the car with her friend and started driving off when suddenly, the car stopped, and the young lady jumped out and ran back to her dad and gave him a tremendous hug. She, with tears in her eyes, told him, “Thanks Dad for everything”. The advertisement was about gratitude and the meaning was incredibly significant to anyone who views it.
What is gratitude? Why is it necessary to have gratitude among family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, gratitude means the state of grateful: Thankfulness. Other definitions define it as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
What does the Bible say about gratitude?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us; “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” NIV How many of us really take this verse to heart? Give thanks in all circumstances?
All of us go through periods in our life when we are down spiritually, physically, or we are struggling with tough decisions about finances or other crucial matters. This is part of life and how can we be thankful for the problems we experience on earth? The sinful nature of man, especially inthissinfulworld,ispronetocomplain and be disgusted with what is not in our favor. This is the human reactions to what we are experiencing.
For those of us that know Jesus personally understand this and remember what the apostle Paul told us in Romans 8:28; “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who ha We, as Christians, understand this. We know what our future is, and it is not of this world. Our future is eternal life with Jesus. Yes, bad things do happen to mostofusandwillcontinuetodosoifwe are part of this world. Are we to be grateful for these? According to the Bible, yes, because all things work for the good of those who know Jesus personally.
Being a young person and living with our parents can be trying times because we do not understand their discipline and knowledge of experience. Many young people buy into the morals of the world and lack graciousness for what they have, as well as some adults, and are misled into ungrateful and sinful situations.
Gratitude for we have comes hard at times because we simply do not understand what we have or have had until it is gone. In all things we are to be thankful. We are to be appreciative of those around us that help us, house us, feed us, cloth us, and do anything for us.
Just as the young lady that was leaving for college, she finally realized what she had at home and what her dad meant to her. Her gratitude to him was an appreciation for what he had taught her andgivenherasshegrewintoadulthood and is now entering into the world.
Remember what the Psalmist told us in Psalm 118:24. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Have and show gratitude in everything!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your saving grace and your promise of an eternal home with you. I pray that in everything that I do and experience that I will be grateful for it. Amen.
