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Say Thanks and Say It Often! By Janet Treadway Too often we do not take the time to thank others for their kindness. Let's remember and appreciate those who make an extra effort to help us.
hile shopping in a grocery store a few weeks ago, I was going down an aisle and noticed a family coming toward me with their cart. One lady was being pushed in a wheelchair. So I pulled my cart over to one side to let them pass. It was a small thing, but I was a little surprised that they went on by without even a glance toward me or a thank you. A few weeks later, I had another experience at the same store that was quite different. I was looking in the frozen food section when a young man who worked in the store came up to me to see if there was any way he could help me.
If you are like me, you are normally so rushed in life that even taking the time to fill out information for a savings card can be taxing. The store clerk took the time to help me out and, by doing so, made my life just a little bit easier. Still, since we're so busy, it's so easy to take that service for granted and think, well that's his job; he is paid to do that. How many times have I overlooked the opportunity to say thanks? But this time, I gave him a big thank you! He certainly received my gratitude for being so helpful. Are we living in the last days described in 2 Timothy 3:1-2 ? There we read, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." Have we become a society of demanding complainers, lovers of ourselves, instead of being thankful? In Romans 1:21 we also see, "Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Causes of ingratitude
Ingratitude has its roots in pride. Someone who is not thankful thinks he should have had more. He believes he deserves better than what he has. Or he believes he alone is wholly responsible for all he has. I had to consider whether I had an outlook that expects things from God just because I am a Christian and trying to obey Him. Do we overlook gratitude and think He should be giving us what we feel we need and deserve? In Colossians 3:17 we read, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Psalm 100:4 states, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." It is hard to be thankful when we are going through a trial and feel God is not giving us what we feel we deserve. How many of us feel we deserve a trial? Roy Holladay, president of the United Church of God, once said in a sermon, "Be thankful we do not get what we deserve."
Being thankful not only lifts us up from our own despair, but it also lifts up others. Being thankful is also a way to let our light shine in a very dark and gloomy world. So, I've determined to say thanks and say it often -- to my family, to my boss, to my coworkers, to people I come in contact with on a daily basis. I want to remember to say thanks to those who serve in the church. Most of all, I want to remember to say thanks to God who gives us even the breath of air we breathe. With that said, thank you for reading this article! Please visit our Web site at www.ucg.org to search for more information on the topic of thankfulness or to request a free subscription to The Good News magazine. Copyright 2004 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Keywords: thanks grateful
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