Here comes THANKSGIVING DAY complete with turkey dinners, family visits, uncomfortably full stomachs, church services with encouragements to be REALLY thankful, and the like… AND ALL OF THIS IS GOOD.
I was thinking that we NEED a SPECIAL TIME OR DAY to focus on gratitude. We need it because we're often like little kids, (well, I am at least) who just received a gift from Aunt Elsie. "What do you say?, prods Mom . "Thank you, Aunt Elsie", Junior responds dutifully.
Remember, only ONE of the ten lepers healed by Jesus said, "THANK YOU". NINE, for whatever reason didn't. Obviously, THEIR MOTHER WASN'T THERE. And by the way, sheer statistics indicate I would have been among the nine.
But what about all the good stuff that comes our way WHICH WE DON'T REALLY DESERVE?… but we have it anyway? Last Sunday the congregation graciously gave the Pastors each a gift certificate of appreciation. I was waiting at the back of the church in late service for Dr. Luke Lemke to make the announcement. Ushering back there was my old friend, Duane Siffring. He laughingly said, "Do you think you deserve this?” I said, NO, BUT I'LL TAKE IT ANYWAY"… and I should have added… "AND BE GRATEFUL".
Just think of the good stuff we have which we don't deserve, but take anyway: the DEVOTION OF A GOOD SPOUSE… LOVE OF OUR CHILDREN (ESPECIALLY AS ADULTS)… POSITION, EITHER BY INHERITANCE OR "DUMB LUCK"… REASONABLE HEALTH (EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT)?
…And then how about: SALVATION… FORGIVENESS… PEACE OF SOUL AND MIND… THE LOVE OF GOD… HEAVEN.
We DESERVE NONE of it, BUT WE'LL TAKE IT ANYWAY AND SAY "THANK YOU, LORD".