Thanking as children

Illustration: Michal Goertzen

The pictures on our refrigerator door are reminders for me to feel grateful: Tyler and Jackson’s big moving machines, Lianna’s perfect scenery and seven-year-old Laura’s original family drawing.

Having little people near gives me a chance to wipe smudges around the house and at bedtime hear a prayer something like this: “Thank you Jesus for butterflies, bumblebees, Nellie’s brown rabbit, Fred’s striped sweater, the frog by the pond, the ladybug on the window, my warm bed, McDonald’s hamburgers and the tape on my finger” and on and on it goes. Children don’t doubt that all things come from God, even if Mom and Dad have to pay for them.

Perhaps children can teach us an important lesson: whatever our role in providing for ourselves, God enables it. We teach this to children and they take it to heart. So should we. If we are thankful for minute things, it won’t be hard to be thankful for big things; if we are thankful with little, we’ll find it even easier to be thankful with much.

Wee ones show us how to apply 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

As children grow, however, they are more like two boys who had a visit from their uncle Rudy. Happily they received a gift bag of chocolates from him. Not long afterwards the boys were fighting and punching each other. When asked why, Joey replied, “There were nine chocolates in there. Jim got five and I only have four.”

Like those boys, we find it hard to have an attitude of gratitude when those around get more goods or praise and we have to be satisfied with what is left.

The way to deal with this is to note that it’s not important how many people have disappointed us, failed us or even done us wrong. The crucial issue is what God has done. Furthermore, it’s important to be grateful for what He is going to do. Why not keep believing that He will provide, and move forward?

Hilda J. Born is a member of Central Heights MB Church, Abbotsford.