Musings on Thankfulness

" . . . neither were thankful." 

That little phrase is tucked into Romans 1, sandwiched among several lists of the steps toward the final decline of mankind through sin and rebellion against the Creator. But why the little footnote about thankfulness?  Isn't ingratitude a small sin, compared to "haters of God" and "murder"?  How did it end up in this chapter?

This has been rolling around in my mind for a long time.  Over and over, as I've encountered my own fleshly tendencies and seen God lovingly correct them, the word "thankfulness" has cropped up over and over again.

Do you know that thankfulness is the remedy for just about all of our emotional handicaps?  Think about a few of
them . . .

Discouragement loses hope.  Nothing will ever change.  It will always be the same trials and troubles.   Thankfulness optimistically accepts God's grace to live today, as it is, and to focus on the God Who can change anything to match His purposes.

Insecurity focuses on her frailties and limitations, always keeping a watchful eye out for the strengths, gifts, and advantages of others and using them as a weapon of comparison against herself.  Thankfulness accepts that, although her life isn't perfect, her God is, and He did not make any mistakes in choosing the circumstances in which to plant her for this short life.

Worry has put herself in charge of her future, and the stakes are high.  She cannot turn her back for a second!  Thankfulness gave her future to God, and she is grateful every day for His strength, wisdom, and watchful eye.


Envy always thinks in terms of "loss," comparing what others have or what she could have with what she doesn't have.  Thankfulness thinks in terms of gain:  Her loving Heavenly Father knows what she needs and is providing it!

Materialism is never full, always roaming for something else to make her happy.  Thankfulness pauses to examine the small blessings all around, studying them until her eyes are opened enough to realize how huge and complex those small blessings really are.

Anger owns her offenses.  She must walk slowly, cumbered down with the heavy load of hurts she has stored in her pack, making sure none of them are lost or misplaced.  Thankfulness skips freely, grateful for that Someone much bigger than she, Who promised that "vengeance is Mine.  I will repay." 

Pride thinks she is responsible for all the good in her life--and what a heavy responsibility that is!  She has no one to thank.  She is deceived into thinking that she got where she is all by herself, by hard work and common sense.  Thankfulness, on the other hand, has nothing to prove.  She is a recipient, not a source, of the blessings in her life.

Stubbornness cannot afford to learn.  She knows everything already, and to change would be to admit that she did not have all the answers already.  Thankfulness is glad for the friends and foes alike who come into her life with new lessons to teach her. 

Cruelty views others as disposable.  They are merely props in her world of self-gratification.  Thankfulness respects others as a precious gift from God in her life, someone worth respecting.
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The story is told of a ruthless king who was discontent.  No matter how much he had, it wasn't enough. He finally commissioned his servant with this command:  "Go throughout the kingdom and find a contented man.  When you do, bring me his shirt.  When I will wear it, I will finally be happy!"

The servant set out on his enormous task.  Two years later, he returned, empty-handed.

"You did not find a contented man in this whole kingdom?"  demanded the king.

"Oh, I did!" replied the servant.  "But he had no shirt."