Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and it’s almost Thanksgiving!
No, it’s not turkey day and it’s not harvest feast, it’s Thanksgiving with the emphasis on thanks! Speaking of gratitude, early on in my disability I learned how important it is to say, “Thank you.” I mean, so many people do so many things for me and do things to me. Now, I consider myself a pretty independent woman, and I like to do as much as I can for myself – as much as possible. But still… someone has to pour the coffee, someone has to empty my leg bag, help me to bed, help me out of bed, get me dressed, brush the hair, brush the teeth, blow the nose… and I am always quick to say, “Thank you for helping… thank you for doing that… oh, I’m so grateful for this… and thank you for that.” And you know what, friend, when I say that I mean it. And what’s more, I really say it a lot – “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Well, I remember one time the funniest thing happened. My friend, Judy, came into my office and asked if she could borrow $10. I was busy doing something and so I said, absent-mindedly, “Sure, take it out of my wallet,” which she did. And when she closed up my purse, and when I heard it snap behind me, I automatically said in a cheery voice, “Thank you.” Judy stopped and gave me the strangest look and another friend standing nearby said, “What did you thank her for? She’s the one who ought to thank you.”
Well, it was an odd thing for me to say – “thank you” to someone who’s borrowing something, taking something from me. But when I considered it to try to understand why I responded so automatically… I guess I realized that I’m just programmed to say thank you whenever anyone does anything to me. It’s like when someone comes near me to give me a drink, or empty my leg bag, or help me off with my coat, and, I guess, even take something out of my wallet, it’s just automatic to say, “Thank you!”
I sure wish I were that way with the Lord… I sure wish I were better programmed to be grateful to him. It certainly would be nice if, all through the day, countless of times, without thinking, I automatically would say, “Thank you, Lord, oh Lord, this is great that you did this, oh, Jesus, thank you for that, Father, thank you,” even when, especially when, it seems God is taking something away from me rather than giving it.
Friend, one of the things God wants to do in your life, one of the most important, significant things, is to cultivate in you a spirit of gratitude. It is that important! After all, we are told in Romans 1:21 that one of the reasons God gave men over to their sinful ways was because – now get this – they failed to be grateful. Hey, I don’t want to be in that camp! So today, this evening, right now, would you join me in expressing your thanks to God? And to give you a little help, I’d like to send you a booklet I wrote called “A Thankful Heart in a World of Hurt” – you can get your free copy by visiting my radio page today at joniandfriends.org. Again, that’s joniandfriends.org. Finally, here’s a fitting verse for Thanksgiving. It’s Psalm 107:31 and it says, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” Hey, quick, two things in that verse. Give thanks to the Lord for who he is… and for what he’s done.
So, tomorrow when you’re gathered around the table, let Psalm 107 be a guide – give thanks to God for who he is and for what he’s done. That’s something that ought to be automatic; that’s something to program into your heart! Until next time on Joni and Friends, have a blessed, have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Please write or visit me today at joniandfriends.org. Of course, you can always call by dialing 1-888-522-5664. Here’s hoping I hear from you today.
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JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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