Gratitude springs out of our faith. We can only be grateful when we know that we do not deserve our blessings and we did not create them. And to some degree, gratitude is a suspension of cynicism—a faith in the person doing the good deed. As gratitude relates to our relationship to the Lord, it is a faith that God is good—that He is in control—and what He is doing in our life is good.

You may have heard that Bill Gates is pouring millions of dollars into ending the worldwide AIDS epidemic. If you have, then you probably think that the people benefiting from his generosity are grateful. I’m sure that some are, but not everybody. In an editorial for HindustanTimes.com, Indregeet Hazra writes, “Bill Gates wants to capture a market in India. Fair enough. He wants to give money to AIDS research in Indian. Are the two connected? Of course they are.”

Instead of being grateful for the $100 million dollars Gates gave, Hazra calls his motives into question.

—www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_105295,0030.htm Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Instead of being grateful for what he is doing, the recipients of the generosity are crying Imperialism and accusing Gates of impure motives. Personally, I don’t know what Gate’s motives are, but I do know that the proper response to his generosity is gratitude.

Romans 1:21 NIV “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

In “The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice,” Christopher Hitchens “accused Mother Teresa of carrying out this grand charade of charity. Her real motive, according to Hitchens was to convert the ‘Third World’ to Catholicism.” In an editorial for HindustanTimes.com, Indregeet Hazra criticizes Hitchen’s position, he wrote “Mother Teresa did spread the word of Jesus to the people she served. But then, just because her desire to serve people happened to be powered by her desire to spread Catholicism isn’t the boo-boo that Hitchens wanted to portray it as.”

—www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_105295,0030.htm Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

I was shocked to hear Mother Teresa criticized in this manner and was pleased that the commentator from India defended her to some extent. You’d think people in India wouldn’t question her motives, they’d just be grateful for her service.

Luke 17:12-19 NASB “And as He entered a certain village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; [13] and they raised their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ [14] And when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed. [15] Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, [16] and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. [17] And Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine— where are they? [18] "Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?’ [19] And He said to him, ‘Rise, and go your way; your faith has made you well.’”

For more information on “The Missionary Position” go to http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/185984054X/fm082-20

Sometimes it is not only right it is beneficial to express gratitude to another. Beth Rittler decided to contact people in her past that had been meaningful to her. She wrote letters or made telephone calls to many old friends and acquaintances. One letter went to a popular boy in her class who had paid attention to her, a shy, awkward girl, with low self esteem, even though they were not really friends. She located him and sent a letter. He responded with a phone call and now, 25 years after they were schoolmates they are husband and wife.

--Reader’s Digest, February, 2010, p. 12 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Thanksgiving is a discipline that carries far beyond one day, the fourth Thursday in November. We can make it a lifestyle. “Thanksliving” will bring grace to others and benefit to ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB77) in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Many athletes show gratitude to God when they do something good, hit a home run, score a touchdown, or win a race. Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Stover has learned to give God the glory even in defeat. During the first quarter of Super Bowl XLIV Stover made a 38-yard field goal and promptly pointed to the heavens giving God glory for his achievement.

Of course many players do that. However, in the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Stover missed a 51 yarder, slightly left. Once again, he pointed to the heavens. That action didn’t escape notice. “CBS announcer Jim Nantz made note of the action, lauding Stover as a “spiritual man” grateful for divine blessing in success and failure, victory and defeat.”

--World February 27, 2010 p. 69 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The Bible teaches us to give glory to God in all you do, not just if it is successful. God receives much glory when we praise Him and remain faithful, even when things do not go the way we would like them to.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) :Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.”

Japan announced recently that it would deliver blankets to victims of tornadoes that struck the southern United States. Though devastated by an earthquake, tsunami, and ensuing nuclear concerns, the Asian nation offered 10 million yen, ($125, 000) worth of blankets and plastic sheets for people left destitute after the tornadoes killed nearly 350 people. The Japanese foreign ministry said a visiting official offered the assistance to US Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg, ”who expressed his appreciation.”

The ministry said they wanted to repay some of the gratitude they felt for the help the US sent to them after the earthquake. The US Military mounted a round-the –clock relief effort after the earthquake struck, airlifting supplies, searching for bodies, and repairing a key airport. The Japanese foreign minister said the tornado damage made him recall the earthquake damage and he wanted to help. The aid will come from a warehouse in Miami where the Japan International Cooperation Agency stores supplies that are usually sent to Latin America to help with disaster relief.

--After quake, Japan helps tornado-hit US, http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110503/wl_asia_afp/usweathertornadojapandisasteraid; May 3, 2011. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (CEV) He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble.

How do you show gratitude when just saying thank you isn’t enough? Pfc. Greg Seibert of Escondido, Calif. was coming home from Iraq. His family wanted to do something special to say thank you to the private. Before he left for the war he had bought an old Plymouth Fury. When he returned home his family surprised him with a newly refurbished car. They had enlisted 15 local companies to donate parts and labor and remodeled his Fury for him. When they presented it to him he said, “It means everything to me.”

--The Week, March 23, 2012 p. 6 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

A Nebraska man recently returned home to thank the Omaha police officer who arrested him and turned his life around ten years earlier. Mark Allen wanted to include the offering of gratitude as he celebrated nine years of sobriety. Allen said he researched the information on his case in order to track down Officer Chuck Matson and tell him how thankful he was that the officer had taken a drunk driver off the streets and saved his life.

Allen said his life and drinking had gotten out of control. He was in Omaha for a visit, and had been drinking with a friend. He chose to drive home and was pulled over for speeding, and then arrested because he was over the legal limit of intoxication. At first he was mad at the officer, but a couple of months later realized the officer had done him a favor. He said that arrest led him to see that he had a problem with alcohol and needed to seek help. Many of his friends helped him through the long process of recovery. Early in the process Allen made himself a promise to find Officer Matson and thank him.

When asked about the reunion, Officer Matson said he had filed over 300 arrest reports that year and this was the only one that had a good ending. He said no one had ever tried to contact him before. Matson believes he and Allen are now friends. He said, “This will be in my memory banks forever.”

--Man celebrates sobriety by finding officer who arrested him,
http://www.ketv.com/news/local-news/Man-celebrates-sobriety-by-finding-officer-who-arrested-him/-/9674510/15141360/-/bu90mx/-/index.html, June 18, 2012, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Colossians 3:15 CEV “Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.”

High School students in a Kentucky high school found a way to say thank you to the janitor that kept their school buildings in order. For Ricky Spaulding, it was just a routine call to go to the gymnasium to clean up a spill, but it was far from routine. This time, Spaulding was presented with a check for $1,900 to enable him and his wife to travel to Italy to see his two-month-old granddaughter. The baby was born to Spaulding’s son who is stationed in Italy with the U.S. Navy.

How do we show thanks to those that serve us? Do we let them know how much they are appreciated? One of the key aspects of thanksgiving is showing gratitude. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

The Week, June 20, 2014 p. 2

1 Corinthians 1:4 (HCSB) (4) I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus,

A North Carolina restaurant gives customers a 15 percent discount if they pray in public. Mary’s Gourmet Diner makes the discount available to any customer who takes the time to appreciate their food before they start eating. One customer, Jordan Smith said she was on a business trip and got the discount. After she and her friends prayed over their food, a waitress came to the table and told them they would be receiving a discount on their check. Though many insist the prayer discount is a hoax, owner Mary Haglund says it is real. She admits that it’s not official policy and they do it randomly, but she is the daughter of a pastor and missionary. Growing up in the Philippines Haglund saw a lot of poverty and sees every plate of food as a gift. She said, “It’s about the whole idea of gratitude. I’m so grateful for the beautiful food.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

North Carolina restaurant offers a 15 percent discount to pray in public, http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014/08/01/north-carolina-restaurant-offers-15-percent-discount-to-pray-in-public/?intcmp=obnetwork, Accessed August 01, 2014

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (HCSB) Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

GRATITUDE

Human nature is to broadcast news of bad service to everyone, but to fail to mention the kindness of employees who serve us well to anyone. Heather Gooch took the time to recognize Anissa, a SouthWest Airlines flight attendant, “who held the baby and walked him up and down the aisle as Gooch and her husband ate lunch,” by posting a picture of Anissa holding the baby on Facebook.

Ephesians 4:29 (HCSB) ^“No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.”

GRATITUDE

In his book, Thanks: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make you Happier, Robert Emmons writes, “A longitudinal study of college students found that happiness levels in college predicted income sixteen years later. The most cheerful students earned $25,000 lore per year than their more dour classmates.” —Jim L. Wilson

Psalm 45:7 (HCSB)“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions.”

Gratitude

New research shows that, as enjoyable as it might be, complaining is not good for us. Repeated complaining rewires your brain to make future complaining more likely and over time it causes damage to certain areas of your brain. Complaining indirectly contributes to health problems like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, it impairs your immune system, and makes you more susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and strokes.

The solution is simple. Instead of complaining develop an attitude of gratitude. When you feel like complaining, shift your attention to something that you’re grateful for.--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (HCSB)“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

As Americans counted their blessings at Thanksgiving 2016, God got most of the credit according to research by Lifeway. The representative survey gave respondents a choice ten options to be thankful for ranging from family to health, and wealth. The study found that Americans were thankful for family, health, personal freedom, and friends for the most part, while a smaller percentage said they were thankful achievements and wealth. When they rated the things they were thankful for most people said family. Nearly two-thirds said they give thanks to God at Thanksgiving. Researchers also found that most Americans believed they had something to be thankful for with only two percent of respondents saying they had nothing to be thankful for. Summarizing the result, the Executive Director of Lifeway Research, Scott McConnell said, “The blessings that matter most are the ones money can’t buy.”—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell

Colossians 3:15 (HCSB)“And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.”

Gratitude

In THANKS! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier, Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. writes, “The family, friends, partners, and others who surround them consistently report that people who practice gratitude seem measurably happier and are more pleasant to be around.” —Jim L. Wilson

Psalm 107:1 (HCSB)“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.”

When Joao Pereira de Souza, a 71-year-old retired brick layer, found an oil-covered, emaciated penguin languishing on the rocks, he decided to take it home. He hand-fed it, and spent a week cleaning the oil off its feathers.

When its health returned, de Souza, tried to set the penguin free, however, the animal wouldn’t leave. Dindim, the penguin stayed with his new caretaker for the next 11 months until his new feathers regenerated, and then left. Four months later, to Mr. de Souza’s surprise the bird reappeared on the island and has every year for the past four years.

Dindim arrives in June and leaves in February. Throughout the years, he’s becomes more affectionate. One expert said that it appears as though the penguin thinks of Mr. de Souza as another penguin and acts accordingly. When Dindim sees him, he wags his tail like a dog and honks with delight.

Now, Dindim spends eight months of the year with Mr. de Souza and the rest of his time off the coast of Argentina and Chile. It is believed that the bird travels around 5,000 miles to show his gratitude to the man who rescued him. —Jim L. Wilson & Craig Wright

Luke 17:18–19 (HCSB)“’Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ ¹⁹ And He told him, ‘Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.’”

All of us have trouble appreciating our parents until we grow a little older and realize all they have done for us. But one man in India has gone a little farther in his lack of appreciation. Raphael Samuel has announced he is suing his parents for the awful way they have treated him selfishly. They brought him into the world without his consent. The resident of Mumbai said his parents selfishly “had me for their joy and their pleasure and that he didn’t ask to exist.”

While that may be the apex of ingratitude, most people could better reach out to show their gratitude to others. It is perhaps the best example of Paul’s warning to Timothy. Lord help us when we are so myopic. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

2 Timothy 3:2 (CSB)² For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

What does it mean to be grateful? William Weigal worked in the post office as a mail sorter. One day a supervisor asked William to replace a postman who was too sick to do his route. Thinking that it would not be too much trouble he agreed.

After only one day on the job he refused to ever take the position again. Afterwards, Weigal took on a new appreciation for his mailman.

Weigal’s grandson recalls that both his grandpa and grandma were both “very, very respectful” to their mailman. Daily, Weigal and his wife invited their mailman into their home to enjoy a cold glass of iced tea and a sandwich.

One summer day, when Weigal knew he wasn’t going to be home to greet “Bucky” the mailman, he made sure that Bucky would find a cooler with a sandwich and a glass of iced tea in it.

The grandson, at his grandmother’s funeral finally met Bucky who said “I’m here because your grandparents cared about me.” —Jim L. Wilson and Eric Espinoza

Adapted from: “For thanksgiving a mailman inspires gratitude” Produced for Morning Edition by Dan Collison with Michael Garofalo. https://www.npr.org/2017/11/23/565733337/for-thanksgiving-a-mailman-inspires-gratitude

It can be hard to relate to other people. It is easy to think that our life is the hardest. But if we take a moment and try to see life from another person’s perspective, we can learn to love and appreciate them for the hard work they do. This applies not only to janitors, garbage men, mailmen, or any other service-job, but also to those sitting next to in this church.

1 John 3:11 (CSB)¹¹ For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another,

Dr. Joshua Brown, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University and his colleague, Dr. Joel Wong, an associate professor of counseling psychology at Indiana University set out to answer one question. How can they help clients derive the greatest possible benefit from treatment in the shortest amount of time? They came to the conclusion that the answer to this question could be found in supplementing traditional therapy sessions with gratitude exercises. Over the last decade, several studies have found that those who routinely count their blessings are overall happier and experience less depression.

When we have a life of thanksgiving the circumstances of life cannot defeat us. We can live above the clouds of despair and discouragement. We can give thanks in everything and be victorious and triumphant in life. We need to count our blessings, naming them one by one. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (CSB)“give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

“When Donald Nicholl was dying of cancer he quoted the words of a Russian poet, that gratitude (if not the highest) is the purest form of love, for when you are full of gratitude there is no room for anything else—recrimination or desire for revenge or self-pity. He began to record his gratitude for all those--individuals and communities--who had nurtured him throughout his life, and through his final diary entries two words echo like a heartbeat: gratitude and grace.”

A life of gratitude is essential for one who is seeking a happy life. Thankful people are happy people, the lack of thankfulness leads to unhappiness. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (CSB) “give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. “

When Juwone Scott, a Special Olympics athlete, saw a man snatch Crystal Cray’s purse, he ran after the purse snatcher and recovered it for her. Cray had just cashed her first paycheck from a new job and needed the money to pay her rent. When it was returned to her, she showed her gratitude on social media with this post, “I’m so very blessed by this awesome guy and so is the community! Let’s make him famous! If you go to Brookshire’s on line and see Juwone please shake his hand or even give him a huge hug!” —Jim L. Wilson

Our parents taught us to say please and thank you. Common courtesy goes a long way. Just ask William White a 104-year-old Marine veteran is a Purple Heart recipient who fought at Iwo Jima. For Valentine’s Day 2020, he was overwhelmed with gratitude from 70,000 fellow citizens who sent him a valentine. —Jim L. Wilson

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/12/805128859/world-war-ii-veteran-receives-70-000-valentines-from-around-the-world

Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.

Psychology researchers Melissa Cyders, Christiana Prestigiacomo, and Melissa Liu polled 500 Americans to see how they were coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and commented on the most effective ways people are coping with the pandemic. “The most effective coping strategies included problem-solving, exercising, engaging in hobbies and focusing on what they felt thankful for.” —Jim L. Wilson

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/look-how-americans-are-coping-coronavirus-142537

Lifeway conducted a survey about gratitude a few years ago. Despite recent cultural shifts, most Americans are still thankful to God for their many blessings. Shockingly, 14% of those along northeastern coast were grateful ultimately to themselves. Nationwide, however, even 25% of “those with no religious affiliation” were still thankful to God. As far as the content of their thanksgivings, Americans were overwhelming thankful for family, health, personal freedom, and friends. A whopping 61% said they were “most thankful for” their familial relationships, and 88% listed family as at least something they “are thankful for” in general. —Jim L. Wilson and Jon R. Pennington

Bob Smietana, “Study: What are Americans thankful for?” Baptist Press, November 15, 2016, https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/study-what-are-americans-thankful-for/

How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

In 2013 actor George Clooney wanted to surprise 14 of his longtime friends with a gift of $1,000,000 each. These were the people, he said who helped him over 35 years. They let him sleep on the couches, they loaned him money, and other niceties. He wanted to give them the money in cash. One rich person in Las Vegas asked Clooney, “Why would you do that?” Clooney replied, “Why wouldn’t you?”

As many people think, your appreciation doesn’t help me at all. It is just words. But a million dollars of gratitude is something else. Clooney stands out, not in the amount of money, but in the willingness to put gratitude into action. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.