Gratitude…
As
I walked through my day, I found myself repeating, “Thank you”, to clerks and
those who helped me, no matter how insignificant the help was. Then I wondered, Are my ‘thank you’s’ a habit, or was I truly grateful? Grateful???
How odd. Does a Grateful rate
more than a thank you? Is there a scale
by which we can tell the difference?
I walked through my day, I found myself repeating, “Thank you”, to clerks and
those who helped me, no matter how insignificant the help was. Then I wondered, Are my ‘thank you’s’ a habit, or was I truly grateful? Grateful???
How odd. Does a Grateful rate
more than a thank you? Is there a scale
by which we can tell the difference?
During
a Bible Study in RCC (Rogers), we were having prayer time. The prayer requests range from Aunt Fanny’s
gout to the stay in the hospital for Granny.
Then our minister asked for praises.
Silence enveloped the room. No one could think of a single praise. Finally one lady prefacing her ‘praise’ with,
“This isn’t very big, but I love to sit on my porch and pray where I can smell
the honeysuckle blooms.” This opened a
flood of ‘small’ praises. No gift is
ever too small to be grateful to the Ultimate Giver.
a Bible Study in RCC (Rogers), we were having prayer time. The prayer requests range from Aunt Fanny’s
gout to the stay in the hospital for Granny.
Then our minister asked for praises.
Silence enveloped the room. No one could think of a single praise. Finally one lady prefacing her ‘praise’ with,
“This isn’t very big, but I love to sit on my porch and pray where I can smell
the honeysuckle blooms.” This opened a
flood of ‘small’ praises. No gift is
ever too small to be grateful to the Ultimate Giver.
It’s a Honeysuckle Day
when….
when….
…The
sun shines and breezes rise
sun shines and breezes rise
…The
clouds play peek-a-boo in the skies
clouds play peek-a-boo in the skies
…I
give God all the praise
give God all the praise
…For
each gift, all my days.
each gift, all my days.
It’s
a Honeysuckle Day when…
a Honeysuckle Day when…
…My
family is all around
family is all around
…And
God’s joy abounds.
God’s joy abounds.
…I
sit as quiet as can be
sit as quiet as can be
…And
all His glory I see.
all His glory I see.
It’s
a Honeysuckle Day when…
a Honeysuckle Day when…
…I
pray to my Father above
pray to my Father above
…So
thankful for His sacrificial love.
thankful for His sacrificial love.
…I
know without a doubt
know without a doubt
…What
life is all about.
life is all about.
It’s
living for Jesus
living for Jesus
…..Serving
Him, with Him I stay
Him, with Him I stay
…..Though
darkness clouds my way
darkness clouds my way
…..I
give praise for my Honeysuckle Days.
give praise for my Honeysuckle Days.
EAC
2012
2012
In
this era of anger, cruel words and physical abuse, True Gratitude is rare.
this era of anger, cruel words and physical abuse, True Gratitude is rare.
Much
less utilizing an absent-minded, ‘thank you’.
Last Sunday, our minister, Randy, gave us a thought, “Gratitude is not an act of etiquette, it is
an act of worship.” That is the essence of our gratefulness. It is not to
prime the pump of the giver or to repay the giver. Gratitude is an act of
thankfulness in all humility.
less utilizing an absent-minded, ‘thank you’.
Last Sunday, our minister, Randy, gave us a thought, “Gratitude is not an act of etiquette, it is
an act of worship.” That is the essence of our gratefulness. It is not to
prime the pump of the giver or to repay the giver. Gratitude is an act of
thankfulness in all humility.
During
the time that Mom spent in the hospital with colon cancer, she was concerned
about all the remembrances, prayers and gifts given to her. She wanted to give back and couldn’t. It was difficult for her to learn to be the
recipient and just be grateful for the love that was poured out upon her.
the time that Mom spent in the hospital with colon cancer, she was concerned
about all the remembrances, prayers and gifts given to her. She wanted to give back and couldn’t. It was difficult for her to learn to be the
recipient and just be grateful for the love that was poured out upon her.
Recognizing
that for which we are thankful as a gift is the premise of one of my favorite
books by Anne Voskamp, One Thousand
Gifts. Ann gives thanks for the many
gifts all around her – the sunset, the sunrise, the harvest, kneading bread for
a hungry family, those around the kitchen table, each child and the music of
rain falling. When you consider the
gifts she is thankful for, their genesis is from God.
that for which we are thankful as a gift is the premise of one of my favorite
books by Anne Voskamp, One Thousand
Gifts. Ann gives thanks for the many
gifts all around her – the sunset, the sunrise, the harvest, kneading bread for
a hungry family, those around the kitchen table, each child and the music of
rain falling. When you consider the
gifts she is thankful for, their genesis is from God.
We
used to play a game when our children were small…. We would name any object
that we saw in the room, and play, “Where did that come from?” Each time, following the succession of “Where
did that come from?”, the answers go back
to a gift from God. That makes the
statement from freedictionary.com behind the times:
used to play a game when our children were small…. We would name any object
that we saw in the room, and play, “Where did that come from?” Each time, following the succession of “Where
did that come from?”, the answers go back
to a gift from God. That makes the
statement from freedictionary.com behind the times:
The
freedictionary.com proclaims, The word “thank”
comes from the Old English word “thancian” (to give thanks).
“Thank you” is attested from circa 1400, short for “I thank
you.”
freedictionary.com proclaims, The word “thank”
comes from the Old English word “thancian” (to give thanks).
“Thank you” is attested from circa 1400, short for “I thank
you.”
I
wonder if Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were grateful for their lovely
garden? Did they recognize their gift of home.
Do we? Sometimes it is the hindsight that makes things clear to us. It
is then we are able to see the hand of God in our lives. The God of Love. The God of Sacrifice. The Eternal One is our all in all, the
beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega of all life.
wonder if Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were grateful for their lovely
garden? Did they recognize their gift of home.
Do we? Sometimes it is the hindsight that makes things clear to us. It
is then we are able to see the hand of God in our lives. The God of Love. The God of Sacrifice. The Eternal One is our all in all, the
beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega of all life.
What
has God given us? What am I grateful
for? First and foremost, Hope and
Salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God has given us his Son because
of His love for us, we who are created by Him.
The evidences of His Glory and Love surround us. Yesterday on our journey to keep three appointments
with three doctors for my dear husband, there were no less than five strangers
who smiled and wished us a “Happy Thanksgiving!” Each time, it was a gift!
has God given us? What am I grateful
for? First and foremost, Hope and
Salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God has given us his Son because
of His love for us, we who are created by Him.
The evidences of His Glory and Love surround us. Yesterday on our journey to keep three appointments
with three doctors for my dear husband, there were no less than five strangers
who smiled and wished us a “Happy Thanksgiving!” Each time, it was a gift!
No
matter how difficult a day is, no matter how trying, hanging on to God’s Hand
fills me with gratitude and joy to be His.
I love the scripture in Revelation 5:8 that declares: and the twenty-four elders fell down before
the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints. Our prayers are not useless for there is no
Circular File 13 in Heaven!
matter how difficult a day is, no matter how trying, hanging on to God’s Hand
fills me with gratitude and joy to be His.
I love the scripture in Revelation 5:8 that declares: and the twenty-four elders fell down before
the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints. Our prayers are not useless for there is no
Circular File 13 in Heaven!
“If
God does something in your life, would you change it? If you’d change it, you’d
make it worse. …” James
Montgomery Boise.
God does something in your life, would you change it? If you’d change it, you’d
make it worse. …” James
Montgomery Boise.
In this
week of Thanksgiving, and every day, we remember to be thankful to God. – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
week of Thanksgiving, and every day, we remember to be thankful to God. – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in
your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always
be thankful. Colossians 3:15
your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always
be thankful. Colossians 3:15
God is good….all the time….
Comments? eacombs@att.net
I am truly thankful for you Emily. You are a gift from God. Thank you for the reminder to be grateful for even the smallest blessing.
I am truly thankful for you Emily. You are a gift from God. Thank you for the reminder to be grateful for even the smallest blessing.