Learning the Art of Giving Thanks
Children never have to be taught to say 'No!', or 'Mine!', or even 'That's not fair!' We definitely have some built-in sensors for promoting the kingdom of self. Every parent knows however that a child has to be taught to say, "Thank You."
"We write our offenses in granite and our blessings on water" is a well-worn proverb because it is so sadly true. We easily respond with impatient anger to slights and just as easily overlook and fail to recall the many ways God has sent his blessings into our lives. We all need to be taught to say, "Thank You."
This, too, is evidence of the great and tragic self-inflicted vandalism that has befallen the human race. We are, after all the only creatures fashioned with the ability to give thanks. My golden retriever joyfully dives into his food every day, but he never pauses to give thanks. I suppose I could train him to stop and lift a paw before eating but it would be a stunt performed rather than the response of his heart. It wouldn't rise from wonder.
In Romans, Paul writes that the first note in the heart and culture that is moving away from God, moving towards the worship of the creature rather than the Creator, is ingratitude: "they refused to give thanks." That's an amazing observation about human nature and a compelling truth for us to consider. Step one away from God - refuse to give thanks to God. Let's reverse that wayward course by stopping in our tracks to bless the Lord for his unfailing love poured out upon us.
This starts at the Lord's Table with his great Feast. Sometimes it's called 'The Eucharist,' from the Greek word 'eucharisto' - to give thanks. The greatest Thanksgiving Feast of all was celebrated 2000 years ago when Jesus took the bread and cup and offered these to his friends. The Gospels say he took these in his hands and gave them to his disciples after he had 'Given Thanks.'
It is so right that we pause this week to give thanks. That we set aside a day for thanksgiving, for pausing to ponder the overwhelming love and mercy that has been bestowed on us, is a great gift. The practice may even yet cultivate in us more than full stomachs, yielding instead glad and grateful hearts on the year's other more mundane days.
Perhaps poet George Herbert best captured the desire for a heart to be transformed from ingratitude to grateful wonder. His poem “Gratefulness” remains one of my favorites and the first stanza alone would be a magnificent prayer for us all to offer every day.
Gratefulness
by George Herbert (1593- 1633)
“Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.
He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And says, If he in this be crossed,
All thou hast given him heretofore
Is lost.
But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.
Perpetual knockings at thy door,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift, much would have more,
And comes.
This not withstanding, thou wenst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay thou hast made a sigh and groan
Thy joys.
Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes, than groans can make;
But that these country-airs thy love
Did take.
Wherefore I cry, and cry again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankful heart obtain
Of thee:
Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare days:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.”
May this great day of Thanksgiving help to form us as Thankful People every day and serve to turn our hearts and minds to the beauty of Jesus and growing astonishment at his saving love.
"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." - 1 Thessalonians 5