Gratitude (part 4)

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High (Psalm 7:17).

Having an ‘attitude of gratitude’ is good for building relationships. Showing appreciation is equivalent to showing respect. When someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you, it is both rude and callous to accept their effort with no word of thanks. When you let another person know that you are grateful for their gift, whatever it might be, that gesture of respect will build a stronger relationship between the two of you.

Another benefit of showing your appreciation is that it encourages more of the same. Scold a child about a messy room and you only solve the problem for a few hours; praise a child for keeping a tidy room and you’ve made an investment in the future. Tell the cook that dinner was delicious, and you provide incentive for making even better meals in days to come. When you let employees know how valuable they are to you, you encourage loyalty to the company and commitment to high standards of performance.

Nothing in life is more valuable than good relationships. Relationships suffer when we take each other for granted; relationships thrive when we notice acts of kindness and respond with gratitude.

Our relationship with God is no different. It weakens if we take Him for granted, it gets stronger when we notice His acts of kindness and express our thanks. The LORD has done more for us than we realize—much of it has escaped our notice and has gone unappreciated. Have you thanked Him for giving you times of happiness? Have you thanked Him each time He restored you to health after some illness or injury? Have you thanked Him for the people He has placed in your life to love you and support you? Have you noticed His paintbrush at work in a field of flowers or the rising of the sun? Do you give Him credit for the food on your plate and the clothes that keep you warm?

The LORD appreciates being thanked just as much as anyone, and He is deserving of far more gratitude than we give Him. So give thanks to the LORD, for He is good—His love endures forever (Psalm 106:1).