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These are all of the articles tagged with the keyword "thank you".
Say Please and Thank You
Posted: November 24, 2007
Category: Pastor Steve's Blog
Comments: 0 Comments
TAGS: please, thank you, Thanksgiving
How many times did you hear your parents ask you to say, “please and thank you” while you were growing up? Parents have to remind their children of these simple words because they do not come naturally to any of us. Our sinful nature means that we live from early on believing that everything revolves around us. Why would you say “please and thank you” if you believe that you deserve everything that comes to you?
Now, in the midst of these attitudes comes the holiday of Thanksgiving. One day in which we are trying to set aside our sinful nature and say thank you to God for everything that He has made and for everything that He has given us. It is a good time for us to realize that God has given us our very being, our clothing and food, homes, jobs, and families.
As Christians, we have even more reason to say thanks when we go through Advent and Christmas. Advent is a the time of preparation that we recognize that God planned to send his very Son to a people who would not even say “please”. We realize in Advent that we are not a people who recognized that we needed or wanted something from God, but He took care of our need before we recognized that need.
At Christmas, we celebrate that God does give the gift of His Son in the manger and this same Son who would go to the cross for us. God did not send His Son to a grateful and thankful group of people, but to a world that despised Him and killed Him on the cross. The gift was extended to us despite us, not because we were deserving of the gift. That is a reason to say thanks. At any point, we would have forgotten the whole thing. Who would want to give a gift of this magnitude those who don’t know how to say “please” and “thank you”? But, it didn’t slow God’s plan one bit. For that, I’m thankful. I’m thankful for a love that would bring me into God’s family no matter where I was at.
Practically speaking, we can use these seasons of Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas to really highlight God’s gift. Develop gratefulness in our children by pointing to the magnitude of the gift of God, not by dumping more gifts on the kids. Don’t hide the Gift….with all the gifts. Be intentional in giving in order that we don’t hide the great Gift of God. That is truly a life of thankfulness.
