A small child’s sweet and innocent prayer often comes nearer the mark of expressing what Christian gratitude is all about than anything we might write. Little children will often mention everyone and every thing they can think of when saying their prayers. (Many a meal can get cold when a child leads the prayer.) But what happens to that childlike “attitude of gratitude” as get older? Are we less grateful or just in too big of a hurry? Why is it that some only express gratitude to God for the food they are about to eat, but fail to ever mention the many other blessings and people in their lives that they should be grateful for. The scriptures admonish: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18.) It is the will of God that Christians be grateful “in every thing.” This obviously means that gratitude is more of a way of life for the Christian and not just a day on the calendar nor just a prayer at meal time. While there are many who seldom pause to thank God even for the food on their table, there are others who never thank God for more than what fills their bellies. If we take the time to count all our blessings and thank God for them, we may discover a measure of that childlike joy and contentment once again.

By: Edward Thomason, minister
New Madrid CHURCH OF CHRIST
“ . . . where families are growing in Christ!”