Thankful Models

 

 

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.          1 Chronicles 16:8

 

In church yesterday, I noticed, as I have before, how thankful to God our leadership is. In prayer and in conversation, especially our Pastor, is always giving thanks to God for what is happening. This is as often for the difficult as it is for the joyful stuff. They see God at work in everything.

I was thinking that, at least for me, this is a contagious thing. I hear them thank God and realize that my little disappointments and perceived setbacks in life are really ways that God works to increase my faith and trust in Him.

In another part of my day yesterday, I talked to a young man who was not so thankful. He wasn’t complaining, he just saw nothing to be especially thankful for in the moment. This started me thinking about how we model thankfulness for our children (and grandchildren).

The question is, do we model thanksgiving to God in our daily lives?

The Psalms give many instructions for giving thanks. It would appear we are to give thanks:

Before unbelievers:                                                                                                                  Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Psalm 18:49

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. Psalm 57:9

Before our brothers and sisters in the Lord:                                                  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. Psalm 30:4                                                                                                         I will thank you in the great congregation, in the mighty throng I will praise you. Psalm 35:18

Within the family:                                                                                                      But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. Psalm 79:13

The next generation learns to be thankful when they learn of the goodness, the steadfast love, and the mercy and grace of God. When we are willing to “make known His deeds” (Psalm 105:1) and “proclaim His might to another generation,” (Psalm 71:18) we “show” them how to be thankful.

More importantly, we must intentionally teach them “why” they must be thankful. We are to be proclaiming what God is doing on a daily basis. Even in the difficult times, we can point out the blessings. He does send blessings.

When we see blessings but we presume on the kindness of God, thinking we have brought them, caused them, or deserve them, we fail to see God’s glory and generosity. In our failure to see, we neglect to tell others, even our children and grandchildren, where the blessings come from.

Children learn what they live. If a child consistently sees a thankful role model, that child will learn to be thankful.

As in my church, it’s not just the children who are watching. Do we model thanksgiving to God in our daily lives?