Dear Friends in Christ,

There was a story about two young men cutting through a farmer’s field.  They didn’t realize that there was an angry bull in that field.  The bull spotted the men and began charging after them.  As the men were running for their lives, one of them said, “You go to church.  Say a prayer.”  The other replied, “I don’t know any prayers.”  The first said, “Say whatever.  You must have learned some prayer over the years.” And so the second answered, “ Ok.  This is the only prayer I know.  “Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly grateful. Amen.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it is hard to be grateful for the things we do receive.  Sometimes the things we receive are not the things we desire.  Some have received a loss of a relative or friend; others have received a loss of a job.  Some of you know what it is like to receive criticism for something you did.  Someone once said that “no good deed goes unpunished.”  When these kinds of things happen, it is hard to feel grateful, and even harder to give thanks.

St. Paul once wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  I am sure this seems easier said than done.  It’s like giving thanks for that angry bull that is about to make a very poignant point in the life of someone who was just cutting across a field.

If all that was needed for gratitude was receiving the things we want, then giving thanks might be impossible at times.  But our reason for gratitude is the Lord who is rich in mercy.  God has provided us with everything we need to support our bodies and lives.  But He has also offered up His own Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins on the cross and make us His own people.  When John was baptizing, he said of Jesus, “Look!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  We receive some wonderful blessings from God for which we all can be grateful.  He forgives us.  He makes us His own people and promises us everlasting life because of Jesus (John 3:16).

God’s people have reason to thank Him always.  It is because of His merciful kindness toward us that enabled St. Paul to write, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will  for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  St. Paul understood gratitude in spite of difficulties in his life.  He once wrote, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13).

May the Lord bless us with the attitude of gratitude as we live under His love and care!

              - Pastor