Gratitude

Seeing Christine's blog post made me think about gratitude.  How thankful are we for the things that God provides and how often do we take the time to give thanks? 

A couple of Christmases ago, I was given a book called "The Birds, our Teachers" by John Stott.  In this book Stott talks about many things but in one place he says that the Ghanaians have a proverb about gratitude that goes, "Even the chicken when it drinks, lifts its head to heaven to thank God for the water".

It seems that all but one class of bird (the dove family) have to drink by getting the water into their beak, then tipping their head back to allow the liquid to trickle down the throat, by gravitation.  This means that with every beak full of water, they have to look upwards, giving the impression that they are thanking God for every drop.   

In this time of lockdown, when we are allowed out for a daily walk, perhaps we take more time to appreciate the beautiful things that we see and to thank God for them.  When the lockdown is over and we return to what we class as normal, let's make sure that we take time to express our gratitude to God for the many things that we have, for so long, taken for granted.

I needed to write this reflection rather than video it as I want you to see this alphabet of thanks where, with just one cheat, each line begins with consecutive letters of the alphabet

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard and
Fierce winds, they blow
God is forever able,
Hold on to what you know.
Imagine life without His love,
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things His
Love imparts to thee.
Move out of "Camp Complaining",
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power that
Praise can yield alone.
Quit looking to "the good old days"
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command.
Until we see Him coming,
Victorious in the sky,
We'll run the race with gratitude
"X" alting God on high.
Yes there'll be times both good and bad - but
Zion waits, where none are sad. *

*My adapted version of a poem in "A barrel of Fun" by J. John and Mark Stibbe