Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Thank you
By Dawn Weimar

“Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving…”
Psalm 147:7

I have a friend who always sends thank-you cards and is committed to teaching her children the same. I have to admit that I had not been in the habit, but knowing her and seeing her commitment to a written thank you has changed my perspective completely. It is so much more than a gesture. It is a good habit! I’ll not claim to be perfect, but there can only be good in stopping to appreciate a kindness or gift by pulling out a pen and paper to express gratitude.

Jesus also instructs us in this matter. In Luke 17, Jesus meets and heals ten lepers whom He instructs to go and show themselves to the priests. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him…and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’”

Whoa! Sounds like a pretty powerful rhetorical question. Jesus makes it quite clear that He expects us to demonstrate our gratitude. Well, of course, Jesus knew these lepers would be grateful; He is omniscient after all. That must mean there are other reasons for us to express gratitude. Gratitude and its expression demonstrate that we understand and appreciate the sacrifice or kindness that someone has shown us. We don’t take it for granted. I believe gratitude establishes us with a gracious attitude.

Let’s consider the opposite…Do you know someone who never appreciates a kindness or gift? Someone who never even says “thank you”? What does that look like? How do you prefer to be viewed?

My grandma always says that she is thankful every time she reads the obituaries…and her name is not mentioned! She’s a stitch! But, seriously, when is the last time that you thanked the Lord for your first morning breath and daily bread? For His love? For Jesus?

Be creative as you practice an attitude of gratitude. And, pull out those thank-you cards!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Write two thank you notes today…one to someone in your life whom you need to thank for an act of kindness and one to the Lord, the Giver of all good things.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 118, 139; Luke 17:11-19; Ephesians 1:15

Dawn is a wife and mother of three daughters, and is active in Oakwood's worship ministries. She's a pediatric nurse, currently working as VP of Business Development in Population Health Improvement.
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