Gratitude

This morning as I was getting my sons ready to head off to school, I grumbled a little because they don’t seem to show much gratitude for all that their mom and I do for them on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, my oldest son was running late and complaining that I was not helping him get out the door faster. When I was their age, I didn’t have either parent at home to help me get ready for school because my dad was often at work before I even woke up in the morning. I felt like pointing out exactly how much we do, but instead of starting a fight I just helped him get out of the house. After they both had left, I sat down at the dining room table to finish my coffee and began to read my devotional. The scripture was from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-16 and it says this:

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

These are the final instructions from the Apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica. Paul instructs them to show gratitude for those that work hard among them and patience for those who do not, but more important to pray, give thanks to God, and rejoice always no matter the circumstance of their lives. This verse hit me like a ton of bricks. This morning, I was grumbling for what I deemed as laziness and lack of gratitude from my boys, instead of showing them patience like Paul suggested. Also, I did not show gratitude to God for all that God does for me on a regular basis.

Next week, we will be beginning a new worship series called, “Our Hymn of Grateful Praise”. It is based on the hymn, “For the Beauty of the Earth” (UMH #92). The hymn is a song of gratitude and as we sing it, we thank God for all that we could and should be thankful for. Have you ever tried being ungrateful or sour while singing? It is kind of difficult. Imagine if we kept this song in our hearts throughout the day. Imagine how gratitude becomes our attitude.

In God’s grip,

Pastor Chuck Church