Budzban: Cultivate a spirit of thankfulness
“People will be lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.” #8212; 2 Timothy 3:2 (NIV)
Are you practicing having a thankful heart? Since this is the season for giving thanks, I#146;m putting an effort into it. My husband and I are teaching our grandchildren how to be thankful.
Before they eat their favorite meal, we have them clasp their hands and we say thank you to God in unison.
We#146;re also helping them to remember to say #147;please#148; and #147;thank you#148; when they are asking for something to be given to them, (such as passing an item across the table) or for some other kind of help.
When we hear them say, #147;thank you,#148; it warms our hearts.
Has anyone ever expressed their gratitude to you for something you#146;ve done for them? If so, then you know what I mean. I feel that is just a smidgen of what God may feel when we express our gratitude to him.
I#146;ve heard it said that ungratefulness is the first step to moral decline. God lists it among many other sins. Who would have thought an ungrateful heart was really that bad #8212; but it#146;s the fertilizer that cultivates other sins to blossom in the soil of our hearts.
Think about it: Teens may not be disobedient to their parents if they were grateful for the wisdom and tender-loving care offered to them.
If we were really grateful for our jobs we would do them with excellence. Neither would envy abound if we showed gratitude for our talents instead of striving to copy others. Our hearts wouldn#146;t stray from our spouses for no reason or stir up strife with others if we learned to be truly grateful for them.
Sometimes we have had something wrong done to us, or experience a loss. The Scriptures teach us that even in these difficult situations we are to cultivate a spirit forgiveness and thankfulness. It#146;s what will keep out the hurt and pain and produce a joyful and peaceful heart attitude in us.
As we set the table this Thanksgiving with our finest china and polished silver, why not polish up the art of giving thanks. Designate one person at your table, even if it#146;s you, to say a short prayer of thanks.
Why not season our table with a different kind of seasoning this year? If it#146;s your usual tradition to pray, add one specific thing you#146;re grateful for this year.
We take on many challenges in life. Why not take the challenge to be the most grateful person in the world this Thanksgiving season? May your blessings flow.
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian speaker, author, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com