What is the difference between the concepts of Give Thanks (thanksgiving), Being Thankful, Being a Thankskeeper and one who Counts Their Blessings?
The command of God--to 'give thanks' is the only one of these very good concepts, that forces us to move out of ourselves. Each of the other words defines an internal process, that while good, doesn't have to go anywhere outside of ourselves. Of course, sometimes it--spills over and that is a positive thing, but only the concept of 'giving thanks' has as its core--going beyond the self.
What aspects are necessary to actually 'give thanks'? Wrestle with these thoughts and see if they don't fit your experiences of giving thanks.
1. sense of blessedness--something has been bestowed upon me from without and it was not necessary nor did I earn it or deserve it.
2. realization of obligation--debt of gratitude-an oughtness that I need to respond--- to complete the act and to define the act.
3. expressing of thanks--GIVE IT--give it up! just do it! say it or write it--simply to be thankful is NOT the same thing as giving thanks.
Teaching kids to say please and thank you teaches them to :
1. not expect you to serve them
2. reminds them that your serving is a gfit from you--not a requirement
3. keeps from developing a false sense of importance
4. helps keep from a superiority complex
Giving thanks pulls us out of ourselves--expresses our interdependence and acknowldeges the gift AND the giver.
1 Thess. 5:18 reminds us that 'giving thanks' IS God's will for us.
Here are some of the benefits that come from practicing this admonition:
1. Awareness--makes me aware that there are people, there is a God, there is power at work in my circumstances---I am not alone!
2. Direction--giving thanks catapults us toward other people--out of ourselves. towards people, towards God--There is a way to go to get outside of ourselves!
3. Connects us---to other people, to God and to the power of God at work in our lives--We walk together!
4. Helps complete us--it helps make us whole people--not black holes that absorb but never give out. interdependent.
5. It helps produce wholesomeness--there is something in the process of giving thanks that brings a sense of goodness, of completion, of fullness that is radically different than not giving thanks.
6. Obeying God bring honor to God--in obedience we not only acknowledge God but we affirm the terms of our relationship with Him--He is in charge and we are His children.
Conclusion: What then shall we DO?
Why not take some time right now to find ways to give thanks and to seek to develop a continual lifestyle of giving thanks. Be specific--how and what shall you do?
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