“Thanks, I love it!” Those are the words my husband and I long to hear from our two children. Though it seems sometimes the phrase is seldom uttered. We have been trying to teach our children the value of counting their blessings. No matter how much we give them, they always want more. Not long ago we took them on a day trip to the Gold Mines. We panned for gold and gems. They both came away with a vial of gold flakes and a bag full of multi-colored stones. As we walked back to our car after the day’s adventure, I was patting myself on the back for such a well planned day when I heard, “It’s not fair. She has a bigger crystal than me.” I couldn’t see straight through the boiling anger in my eyes. How could my son possibly be asking for anything more? Yet, there he was with his lip drooping and his eyebrows scrunching.
My husband and I launched into a full-scale lecture about how we should be thankful for the things we get and not be constantly worrying about the things we don’t. We listed each of the things they should have been thankful for that day. Begrudgingly, my son thanked us for such a fun day. We did not feel appreciated for it was not given with a cheerful heart.
The next week my husband called me from work to ask about getting Braves tickets. Our children have never been to a game and our son loves baseball. I told him it sounded like a great idea to me. When he came home later that evening, he told me he decided not to buy the tickets because our kids act so ungrateful about everything we give them. He said when they starting being more appreciative, we would take them. I agreed, but was skeptical that would ever happen. As I discussed the problem with a friend the next day, it hit me. It doesn’t change. We act the same way as adults.
God pours out blessing on us. We are fleetingly happy until we see someone with something bigger and better than us. That family has a nicer car. That couple’s home is bigger than ours. They could afford a professional to decorate their house. They have granite countertops. Their kids are always dressed in the latest styles and trends. She has better singing voice than me. Her husband’s job pays more than mine. Sound familiar? We all are guilty of looking at someone else at some point in time and saying I wish I had what they have. Our Godly Father is sitting back and saying, “But I gave you this and this and this…” We don’t hear it because we are on to the next thing that we want.
As I spoke to my friend, she told me that she was challenged in a Bible study to take twenty-four hours and not ask God for anything – to spend time with him in prayer just praising him and thanking him. God spoke to me; that was what I needed to put into practice, too. It is not wrong to ask God for things. He tells us to do so in the Bible.
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
But notice how that verse says with thanksgiving. In other words, come with a grateful heart. Imagine if your children, for one whole day, did nothing but thank you for the things you’ve given them and praised you for being such a good parent. Wow! I would love that. It would make me want to do and give them more things without them even having to ask. I’m sure our Heavenly Father feels the same way. If we pour out the praise and thanksgiving on Him, we are sure to be the ones blessed.
I challenge you today to try this. Take the next twenty-four hours and don’t ask God for anything. Instead, take that time to reflect on the many blessings you have. Sing praise songs to God. Read him a psalm. Listen to praise music. Take a walk and notice the earth’s beautiful splendor. It’s about time we came to the Lord with a little gratitude!
Colossians 3:16 NIV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
1 Chronicles 16:9 NIV
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
Psalm 100:4 NIV
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
I love that idea! I will definitely be doing it. Thanks!
Have a blessed Jesus praisin’ day!!
Jenifer
Guilty! Convicted! 🙁 Taking the challenge!
OTHER 🙂
Oh, my. Yes indeed. I have been so bothered by this in my children and then convicted about how I am JUST as bad. Okay, I don’t physically pout and have a lot of outside tantrums, but there sure seems to be a lot of pouting and foot stomping in my heart. 🙂
This is a great challenge, Carol. Truth is, it probably will be a bit of a “challenge.” I am so used to asking, asking all day. I am sure He will be refreshed to have me take a praise break! I think I will challenge my girls to join me!
Thanks for this great post and wonderful idea!
Love you,
K
Awesome reminder Carol. I know that much of my “discontent” comes from being ungrateful for what I have. I will make a conscious effort today to focus on the glass that is “overflowing” with what the Lord has given me!!
Have a super weekend friend!
Kelley
Yep! I’m so guilty of doing that…but when I start thanking Him for all the things He’s given us, I forget about all the stuff I think I need. Praise and thanksgiving changes our perspective doesn’t it!
Love you girl!
steph.
I’ll take that challenge! What a great post, Carol. Gratitude is something we should definitely be living. And if it helps, we went through that stage with Kristyn. It *does* get better. They learn and their little hearts are learning by example more than you realize. *Hugs*
They learn and their little hearts are learning by example more than you realize. *Hugs*
Realized how that sounded. I meant to say that by watching your example it’s rubbing off on them and before you know it they surprise you with what you’ve taught them.
Yowza! Tis True!
We say (actually i say it to my kiddos and then it forces its way back into my own ears!) we get to choose to be either ‘Humbly Grateful!’ or ‘grumbly hateful’.
One of Ravi Z.’s teaching teammates said something that’s been very impactful in my daily living out the Faith:
“We’re made happy not by what we ACQUIRE, but by what we APPRECIATE.”
baaaaaa…
I love that verse! It’s taught me to always say thank you when I pray.
Thanks for the reminder to be thankful. It’s amazing how easy it is to forget!
What a great challenge to try! 🙂
Thanks for stoppin by my blog Carol, your encouragment was much appreciated.
Your post challenged me today. I have been trying to “encourage” (read rant, nag) my children to be thankful for what they have.
This is a difficult lesson I have been trying to teach myself. But there I go again, trying to do it myself! Time to turn it over to the Lord again.
What a great idea!! And more difficult that we can imagine. We are so tuned in to ask, ask, ask. Thanks for turning our thoughts toward praise and worship of our Lord.
Leah
This was a great reminder. I’ll get on the boys for their ungratefulness during supper while I myself am longing for a bigger dining room… we just moved into this house in March, and it has truly been a blessing. it’s a ton bigger than our town home was, we have a fenced yard and we were not affected by the flooding here at all. But sometimes, especially after visiting a friends home, I find myself wanting more. It’s a matter of being content. Thanks for the challenge.
We have the same issue with our kids…glad I’m not alone in that. But I never thought of it in the context of how we relate to our Father in heaven. Thanks for the great analogy!
Xandra