Bible Verse: Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. (Philippians 4:14)
Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:3-11
This week, we are looking at gratitude through the acronym T.H.A.N.K.S.
I am drawn to thankful people. You are likely, too.
I heard a joke about two identical twin boys who were completely opposite in their outlooks on life. One was a negative complainer; the other was a thankful optimist.
An experiment was done to see if the two boys could become more similar.
They put the complaining boy in a room full of wrapped gifts, telling him they were all his. They put the positive boy in a room, knee-deep in manure, and told him this was his gift. Then they left the boys for an hour.
After the allotted time, they opened the door to the first room, and there were presents and wrapping paper scattered all over the room. The pessimistic boy had a scowl on his face.
“What’s wrong?” he was asked.
“These presents are terrible,” he replied. “They’re the wrong colour. They are too complicated. They are for younger kids. They are broken.”
When the second door was opened, there was the second boy with a smile all over his face.
“Why are you so happy?” he was asked.
The boy kept digging in the manure while responding, “I know there’s a pony in here somewhere!”
Which of those two boys would you like to spend the afternoon with? (Granted, the second child would need a good long shower first!)
Proverbs 21:9 says, “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
It is better to be anywhere than with someone who is not a thankful person.
Gratefulness draws people close; it kindles community. Grumbling pushes them away.
If you want to be a person who experiences the joy of fellowship and community, become a thankful person.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for all You have done for me. You have been kind to me even from childhood. Now, I am a man, but I still want to have a childlike gratefulness for all Your love. Help me to be captivated by Your goodness. Help me to face every situation with a grateful heart. Amen.
Reflection: Do you need to change your attitude from grumbling to thankfulness? Grumbling is a lot easier and maybe even more acceptable, but thankfulness will make you a person of attraction.
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