When did you last say thank you and mean it?
THANKS! When was the last time you said “Thank you” … and meant it? I don’t mean that you’re not genuine – but when did thanks well up inside you and overflow from your lips?
Recently I had to isolate whilst I awaited a COVID test result (thankfully negative). That brought fresh appreciation for the care and shopping others brought to me.
We’re recently celebrated Harvest in our churches, when we thank God for his provision in the world he has made and the food that is grown. As Psalm 65 says: “You crown the year with your bounty”.
But I wonder if we too often take our food, clothing, heat and homes for granted. We work, we buy, we cook and clean – we feel it is all down to our own effort and we don’t feel thankful. Maybe it’s not until something is taken away and we face shortages that we realise that we assumed too much. The recent fuel shortages brought me a fresh appreciation when I filled up the tank.
What else do we take for granted? Psalm 65 gives a special focus to rain: ‘You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.’ Rain, you cry – I want sun! But we need showers along with the sunshine. How can we thank God more for his provision? How can we show it too?
As we face a tough winter, maybe with tight finances, rising bills and inflation – we’ll be tempted to look more to ourselves and our own needs than those of others. It will be a time when generosity is costly. So, how can we live generously?
Generosity is an attitude before it is an action – it comes from within. We receive before we give.
My first car, which I bought from my Dad for £1 (!) … was great, but developed a tendency to break down! So, I formed a close relationship with the AA and was grateful when a breakdown man would come and rescue me. Rescue from our helplessness brings thankfulness.
Rescue and generosity is ultimately seen in Jesus Christ, who left the splendour and comfort of heaven to come to poverty, humiliation, rejection, even death on the cross. Why? So that we through his poverty might become rich – knowing the grace of forgiveness and the hope of an eternal and abundant life in him.
Where does this leave us? Each of us poor, spiritually, in need of God’s grace. But if we receive it – we’ll be filled with joy that overflows. May we accept that grace and express it in thankfulness to what God has given, and a generosity to one another.