Always Grateful
“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11
The above verse is part of what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”. More accurately, it is the model or pattern given to us by Jesus as a guideline for our personal prayer time. When addressing the Lord in prayer, we are to honor God for who He is and acknowledge His kingdom and His will as His sovereign right. We should then ask for our daily provisions. When we are about to sit down to eat a meal, we should always give thanks for the food that He has provided no matter where we are. I remember several years ago, my husband and I were on a cruise to the eastern Caribbean. We had gone to the dining room and were seated with a couple whom we did not know. When the server brought our meal, my husband told the couple that we were going to ask the blessing before we ate. They just looked at us with indifference and said “Go ahead.” And we did. I held my husband’s hand, as was always our custom, bowed our heads, and my husband offered a short prayer of thanksgiving. Since my head was down and my eyes were closed, I could not see the faces of this couple, but I don’t think they joined in with us.
When seeing the vast number of people in restaurants and even in some homes, who never bother to thank the Lord for their food, I think, not to be judgmental, but wonder how people can enjoy God’s bounty, the wonders of nature, health and strength, and a beautiful sunset or sunrise and not express gratitude to the One who created it all. Nowadays, it is practically a crime for kids to pray in school. Some of the adults have a nervous breakdown if a child even mentions the name of Jesus. I can remember, all the way back to the dark ages, when I was in elementary school, the teacher always led the class in thanking God for the lunch that we were about to eat. I still remember the prayer: “God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands must we be fed. Give us Lord our daily bread. Amen.” (We always used to complain about the food in the lunchroom, but I wish I could get a meat, two vegetables, fruit, a yeast roll, dessert, and a bottle of milk for 25 cents today!) That prayer was likely the only prayer that some of those children ever heard or said. Some of them received no spiritual training at home, but a good many of the kids were taken to church. We actually had Bible reading and pledged allegiance to the U.S. flag. My how things have changed and not for the better.
Have your ever stepped your tired body into a nice warm shower and thanked God for running water, a water heater to heat the water, and the income with which to pay for it? How about when you are driving, and you make it back home safe and sound? Or what about when your funds are low, and you receive an unexpected gift of cash? Ephesians 5:20 tells us to give “thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. I have also noticed that folks don’t write thank you cards upon receiving a gift from someone. Some don’t even call or send a text to tell the giver how much the gift is appreciated. I have also noticed that folks with somewhat of an “entitlement mentality” do not go out of their way to thank others for supplying needs or lending a helping hand. My copy of Webster’s New World Thesaurus gives the opposite of “humility” as “pride”, but I think “entitled” could also serve to oppose “humility”. That is another thing that has changed and not for the better: too many takers and not enough givers. I heard a well known inspirational speaker say one time that there are two kinds of people: those who add value to others’ lives, and those who drain the life right out of others. I would rather be an asset to the Lord and to others than a liability.
If we appreciate a sincere “thank you” from others for gifts given or help provided, would not the Provider of all good things appreciate a “thank You” for His many blessing to us? I think we could all stand to put a little more gratitude in our attitude.