Recently I opened my mailbox to find, surprise, surprise, a gift package. I opened it and inside were two tea mugs. Imagine my surprise when I read the little card in the box, and saw who and what it was from! The gift had in fact come from someone I had helped in a professional (and not pastoral) context, on a matter that had only required a small financial effort from me, and involved more kindness than real work. I also told myself that I had not followed through to the end because I had not followed through on my intention to call the person back later to find out how things had gone.
But here is that She expressed her gratitude to me, and did so in a way, given the nature of the gift, which showed that she had taken it to heart, for my love of tea is…. I was surprised and touched by the gesture; touched because in the pastoral field it is my daily bread to bring help to people, a help compared to which what I had done for this person seemed insignificant. Now, she was sincerely grateful and expressed it with sensitivity. This, of course, made me reflect, once again, on the nature of gratitude, to God's thoughts on the matter. Gratitude, recognition, thanksgiving mark the pages of the Scriptures.
'Be thankful,' 'give thanks,' God's word tells us; gratitude is expressed to men and to God. And it is not a casual 'thank you' said out of obligation, no, it is kindness, respect, and honor extended to the one who has bestowed his favor upon us. Over and over again I tell my people, 'when a person has been of great help to you, he must become sacred in your eyes, and if the whole world should turn against him, you would do well to keep silent, avoid judgment, and sheath your sword. Remember, he was there for you when no one else was.' We must not be so quick to turn our backs on people who have been instruments of mercy in our lives. Yes, gratitude matters; it is a measure of our worth as men and women of God.
Those who stone the prophets will experience a famine of prophecy, we cannot dishonor those through whom God blesses us while continuing to claim God's blessing. Beware of an education that would develop in children the exacerbated feeling that everything is owed to them, and transform them into self-centered adults who take while grumbling, indifferent to what the help provided costs their benefactor and without the slightest feeling of gratitude towards those who have reached out to them in their need. No one owes us anything, everything is by grace and we must learn to appreciate both all the good that is done to us and those through whom it comes; by seeking the way to be a blessing to them. Let us be clear, it is not about giving gifts, no, it is rather about keeping a good heart and a good attitude, and not forgetting the good that is done to us.
The psalmist says it so well when he calls his heart, concerning God, “Do not forget all his benefits” and goes on to list God’s kind acts towards him. Thanksgiving is the foundation and the door of praise. At our New Year’s Day meeting, as we prayed, we spent more time expressing our thanks to God than I had thought. It seemed to me that we needed to continue, that we needed to express more gratitude to God. It is neither a matter of mumbling a few words nor of shouting our thanks to God, much like a child who would thank his parents because it has been instilled in him and he knows that the parents expect him while he feels no gratitude. Rather, it is a matter of hearts moved by the awareness of God’s kindness towards us; It is a place of openness, sincerity and humility, where we recognize our debt to our Father.
And sometimes it takes a little while for people to get to that place in the Spirit, but we did; and the afternoon service was glorious, imbued with the presence of God. It was that we showed our gratitude, and greater favor came to rest upon us. Indeed, gratitude attracts greater favor. So, be grateful. God will connect you with people who will reach out to you in difficulty, who will give you the solution to the riddle you are struggling with, who will listen when you need to talk, who will pray for you and pour out love upon you; decide now that you will honor them and be grateful to them and to God, the One who brought them into your path. And as you speak good of and do good in return to those who have done good to you, you will certainly see good multiply in your life. And now it is time for tea.
Shalom!
