A practical reason for gratitude. . .

"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." (Colossians 3:17)  

Most of us have learned from our moms the polite custom of saying "thank you."  Maybe it was not always heartfelt but it was offered to every gift and kindness -- now what do you say?  They seem like lessons in futility but they were important.  Gratitude does not come naturally.  It is a learned thing.  It can also be unlearned.

I fear that we have unlearned what it means to be grateful.  We once had a better idea of what we were grateful for as a nation, as families, and as Christians.  Perhaps this is where we have failed.  We no longer seem to be sure or certain or even care about the rich and abundant blessings we have received.  Instead, we seem to be consumed with the things that are wrong.  We style ourselves as victims and are proud of such a label.  It does not matter why we think we have been wronged, to be wronged is our badge of honor.  We do not trust or value the esteemed institutions that have surrounded our lives and so we nitpick and find fault with them just as we do people.  Nothing is right and everything seems to be wrong.

Patriotism has become bigotry and we no longer seem aware of or grateful for the manifold blessings that we enjoy daily and richly.  Living near an army post I have learned to be grateful that there are still those who out of love for country offer themselves to service in the protection of liberty and the defense of our land.  But there seem to be more and more people who disdain this land and our freedom and our liberty.  We have become a nation of whiners and complainers who overlook anything that is good in our to point out what might be bad.  Where is our gratitude?

We were raised in homes by parents, surrounded by family, and supported along the journey of this life but as a people we seem suspicious of marriage and family more than attracted.  We fear the cost of loving and we are hesitant to pay the cost of putting anyone ahead of ourselves.  What are we willing to give up for the sake of another?  Is that not what is behind the increasing numbers of people who think marriage out of date and family out of style?  Even the casual way we treat life from its natural beginning to its natural end signals the fact that we are no longer grateful or live in awe of its sacred gift.  Where is our gratitude?

We are conscious of every slight, every snub, and every offense and we want the right not only to be offended but to obtain damages.  Our courts are filled with cases of people who want money more than justice.  Our unsocial media is filled with folks who think that they can raise themselves up by tearing down others.  We have lost more than our charity or manners, we have forgotten how to be grateful and so we end up angry.  We are angry in school, at home, at work, on the highway, and even in our leisure.  Where is our gratitude?

Churches are not immune from this.  I wish I had a dime for every time the ritual shaking of hands at the door was accompanied by a complaint -- the kids were too noisy, the organ too loud, the choir off key, the sermon too dull, the service too long, the building too hot or cold, the pews too hard, the floors too dirty, the coffee too weak or strong, the people too rude....  it goes on and on.  Here we are in the presence of the Most High God who made all things and in His holiness stooped down to become incarnate so that He might save the bunch of whining, complaining, ungrateful sinners that we are.  But all we seem to know how to do is to find fault with something or other or someone or other.  Where is our gratitude?

Teach your children well how to be grateful.  They were not born with gratitude.  The world will not instill this virtue.  It is up to you at home.  Without gratitude, God is merely the complaint box for all that we find wrong and are unwilling to accept responsibility for.  With gratitude, God is not only good but life is better, too.  Think about that.  And consider this your momma reminding you again, now what do you say?