As the Summer closes, I have been focusing on letting Charlie enjoy what’s left of the season before school starts this week. School can be demanding for a fifth grader and add to that, he has weekly Bible studies and typing exercises to resume. In the same vane, I am looking forward to getting back into my writing, so it means less play time.
For breakfast this morning, I wanted to do something nice for him compared to my usual banana mango smoothie, so I took him to Chronic Tacos, a popular local eatery. He loves breakfast burritos and we have never tried them there before, so I took the time to look online and called them in advance to surprise him. We split a breakfast burrito and each got one taco. Before he could take a bite, he complained about how hot it was temperature wise, so I told him to eat his shrimp taco. He dropped a succulent shrimp on the table before the taco hit his mouth. The entire time we were there, he had a scowl on his face and kept complaining about his food. Not once did he show pleasure or thankfulness. The food was delicious and I would go there again, but honestly, the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Quite frankly, Charlie acted like a spoiled, ungrateful brat!
I didn’t utter a word about his behavior. Instead, I prayed and asked God for wisdom on how to teach him not to behave that way. God urged me to write an article to point out that we all have our moments of spoiled, entitled, and ungratefulness towards Him. Charlie will read this, as he reads all my articles and will have a moment of clarity at that time. We will also have a chance to discuss his behavior.
A gift is something that is given without the expectation of anything given in return. It is free. No payment is required … except perhaps a proper “Thank you.” This proper thank you could be in the form of saying, “Thank you” with the attitude of gratefulness and a smile or even a “thank you” note. But if a receiver doesn’t do any of these things, we can safely assume they are ungracious or even ungrateful towards the giver.
Have you ever given someone a gift that you took the time and effort to buy only to have the recipient give a lackluster response or worse, complain that it wasn’t what they expected? Or have you waited for that “Thank you” so you can file it in the back of your mind as “Gift given … Gift received with thankfulness?” I believe that God wishes He can file all His gifts that way, but based on my experience today and the multitude of gifts that weren’t received properly, He is not satisfied with the thanks He has received.
Jesus healed ten lepers in Luke chapter 17. These men were rejected and isolated from society because of their contagious disease, but Jesus got close to them. He healed their disease and told them to present themselves to a priest. In other words, the priest could reinstate them back into society. A while later, one of the lepers returned to Jesus thanking Him as he fell to His feet in worship. Jesus asked, “Weren’t ten healed? Where are the nine? Weren’t they thankful enough to return just so they can give glory to God?” Even Jesus was perturbed by the ungrateful nine. Here they were cleansed and given access back to the fold, but they didn’t bother thanking Jesus for their gift. He didn’t require them to pay Him back. They couldn’t. The least they could do is say “Thank you” and give Him praise for their miraculous healing.
We all have received enumerable gifts from God, but have not been appreciative enough to thank Him properly. Perhaps, they happen so often that we just expect lines to fall in our favor every time. Or someone extends help or service in our direction, but we just take for granted that resources abound and are there for us to take advantage of. God isn’t pleased with this attitude, because thankfulness comes from Him. He is the source and He expects appreciation and gratefulness to Him and to those whose hands have extended that measure of grace.
Being thankful is free. It doesn’t cost us anything in contrast to the gifts we have received, yet it matters a lot to God, because He is the Gift and the Gift-Giver. It has a high currency in God’s economy. He rewards those who know how to thank Him properly. He was so pleased with the one leper that He told him to “Arise, your faith has made you well …” That wellness and goodness will follow him all the days of his life due to his act of gratitude and thankfulness.
I don’t know when I will take Charlie to Chronic Tacos again, but I am thankful that God’s longsuffering and everlasting love has been extended to me this very day!
7 Ways to be Thankful
1 - Take the time to say “Thank you” with a grateful heart
2 - Write a “Thank you” note to God and those who give of themselves
3 - Sit still long enough to see God’s provisions and view them as gifts
4 - Serve others due to your thankfulness for the ability to do so
5 - Give to those in need as a sign of your gratefulness for what you already have
6 - Listen to and pray for others
7 - Humbly repent for the times you overlooked the gifts that were given to you
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