As I sat watching a television show I heard Susan yell from Connor’s bedroom, “KEVIN GET IN HERE QUICK!”  As I sprang up from the chair my mind quickly began to theorize different things which could have happened to Connor.  As I rounded the corner Susan put her index finger to her lips and went, SHHH!  What I witnessed was something that I often heard parents share with others of their children bringing them items from all over the house and now we were experiencing one of those moments.  In Connor’s room we have a large box filled with all the cards he has received from loved ones.  Connor had decided to open the box and one by one began to bring them to Susan.  As Connor dropped them off, Susan began to say, “Thanks!”  After a few trips, Connor began to repeat those words and would say “thanks” on his return trip to obtain more cards.  It warmed our hearts to hear him say “thanks” for the very first time.  It nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Sadly, in our everyday encounters we experience less and less people who show appreciation to others.  I must admit there have been a time or two in which I have held a door open for a family entering an establishment and they did not say a word to me.  I have been known to remind them with a warm, “You’re Welcome!”

As children of God how often do we take the time to truly express thanks to God?  When was the last time you took to time to communicate with our Father and tell Him how thankful you are for all He was done and will do for us?  I believe that far too often we are like spoiled children who are constantly ASKING God for things but never take the time to THANK Him.

Scripture is full of examples of Godly men and women proclaiming thanks to the Lord.  I would like to share a few scriptures with you for your meditation and consideration.

Psalm 107:1-3 – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”

Psalm 130:1-5 – “A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”

Ephesians 2:4-10 – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Colossians 3:15-17 – “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

When we begin to slow and meditate on God’s Word, we can clearly see that we have so much to be thankful for.  The same God who spoke the world into existence; who breathed life into man; who redeemed us from our sins is still alive and working in the lives of His children today.  May we all take the time to go to our Father in prayer and pour out our hearts unto Him for all that He has done.  As the song “Thank You Lord” states, “For all that You have done I will thank You.  For all that You are going to do.  For all that You have promised and all that You are; is all that has carried me through, Jesus I thank you!”

As parents may our children be witness to our prayers and may we instill in them the desire to be thankful and to express it to others.

God bless!