12-24-2016

Good Morning All,

      Colossians 3:16; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

      Her mom and dad are trying; her grandma and grandpa are trying to help; her aunts and uncles are trying to help as well.  Everyone is trying to teach my granddaughter manners.  We are working on “please” and “thank you”.  She is pretty good.  She only has a few lapses here and there.  For her age, she does pretty well.  Of course she is just over 2 so the “mine” and “get me this” and the “I want” come through loud and clear but the “please” and the “thank you” are getting there.  It is kind of funny how we have to teach, re-teach and then reinforce manners and civility while selfishness and rudeness comes so naturally.

     Yet learn and relearn them, throughout much of our life.  When we take the high school kids out somewhere, we remind them of their manners.  Most of them, most of the time; do just fine.  Most of us, most of the time, do just fine.  Yet if we would only practice it more, we might find our lives more content.  If we were to strengthen our thankfulness, we would feel the warmth of God in our heart.  Yet even as adults, we need to practice.

    One thing to try is to keep a journal of people you are thankful for.  It might be a neighbor, your spouse, a friend or co-worker.  It might be the person at the grocery store who helps you find the things you need.  At the end of each day, try and list everyone who you are thankful for.  List each person who did something for you, said something kind to you, or made your day easier. 

    Send one letter a week to someone who you truly are thankful for.  It might be a nurse or nurse’s aide who helped you in the hospital.  It might be the kid down the street who helps keep your yard clean.  It might be the person who gave you a ride last week.  Yet each week select one person to thank in a special way.  It can help you see what you have to be thankful for.

    A third way is to be sure to include the names of the people who you are thankful for in your daily prayers.  By speaking these names to God, we are bringing them to mind and we are offering their names up to God.  We continue to list, to remember and to give thanks to God for the people and the actions in our life.  Give thanks to God for the people that he places into your life who make your life easier, more enjoyable or who bring contentment to your life.  When we pay attention to the many people and things that we have to be thankful for will be joy to our heart and contentment to our souls.

Father of all mercy; guide us by your Spirit to be thankful for the many blessings that you bestow upon us.  Lead us to tell those around us that we are thankful for them.  Let us never forget those whom you use to bless our lives.  Give us contented souls and thankful hearts.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret