“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
I would like to share with everyone an email I received the other day that gave me such a blessing. With his permission, please read what he wrote below in its entirety.
“Just read your very good work and words you wrote and posted on Rapture Ready “A Day Almost Forgotten.” We have forgotten about giving thanks to our God for every thing we have. I am 85 years of age and my wife is…, shall I just say close behind. Today is Thanksgiving Day. We will spend this day with just the two of us. Our children will have their time with the other side of the family. We will all be together on Saturday. My wife and I have spent the first part of this day reading the book of Psalm and giving thanks unto Our Lord and God for all the blessings He has poured out on us. My wife, on Feb 15 of 2012 will celebrate her 32nd year of being free of breast cancer and from all she had to go through 32 years ago. We praise God for that. She has had cancer again, but all was gotten and no more signs. She has had open heart surgery and has had, over the years, about eight other surgeries. But, she is still going and waiting on me as if I was helpless. I spend most of my time in a wheel chair and along with her have all sorts of heart problems, but through the grace of God still hanging in. I write this because we give thanks to God for every thing we have because we know it all comes from Him. We get stares when we go out to eat someplace and bow our heads and hold hands and give God thanks for our food, but this is just what we believe we should do. Thanksgiving Day is the almost forgotten day. But giving thanks to God just for every thing we have on a daily basis has been forgotten too. God is good, God is great, give Him the praise.”
If this doesn’t touch your heart, then all we can do is pray for you. Did you notice what they did on Thanksgiving Day? Did you notice what they do when they go out to eat? Did you notice his last remarks? “God is good, God is great, give Him the praise.” Even with all their problems, they both give God the praise.
Thanksgiving Day is behind us now, but as he said, “But giving thanks to God just for every thing we have on a daily basis has been forgotten too.”
There is so much we have to be thankful for, and it all comes from God. Being thankful is not a “one day” thing, but far too many of us don’t even take that one day to be thankful.
One fellow responded to me by stating that he thought the article was a guilt trip on my part and that I was making assumptions and judging. I never ceased to be amazed at these strange responses that arrive in my email box occasionally. Thankfully, there aren’t that many.
Anyone with eyes and ears can look around them and see that we have “generally” become a nation of unthankful people, even so called Christians. I witness people daily, whether in my job or my private life, who demonstrate very little thankfulness. To the contrary, I see a great deal of selfishness.
Another thing that really jumps out at me is just how few Christians there are who will ask God’s blessing upon their food in a restaurant. I know one man who is a well known pastor in our community who I have never witnessed asking God’s blessing on his food, and I have seen him on many occasions.
It isn’t just about saying the blessing or grace (whichever you prefer to call it) though. When people are afforded an opportunity to thank the Lord foranything, how many do so? Thankfully, several will, but unfortunately, most will not. Some will even take the credit for what God has done.
It is true that those who are not Christians will often have the attitude of non-thankfulness, but not always. Even non-Christians can be thankful. They just don’t realize the source. Many Christians, knowing the source, are thankful, but many are not. So what is the general consensus? I hold to my belief, by observing our society that few are thankful for the many blessings that come their way.
I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning the last days, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful (emphasis mine), unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5) He said that these will be the traits and actions of mankind in the last days. The last days are here.
As a whole, this world throughout this earth, is not only unthankful, but outright demanding for anything that will fulfill their own greed. Yes, there are thankful people, but the percentage is definitely very low. Some will thank God for His blessings even during troubling times, as Job did, but most will curse God and say, “Why me?” It is also true that usually when everything is going well in our lives, and no problems to be had, most very easily forget God. Let us be thankful for all that He has done for us. “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:13)
Grant Phillips