An Attitude Of Gratitude

When I was a little girl my mother trained me to say, "Thank you Momma, you're a good woman."    It's true she is a good woman. She is like a fine wine or a product that has become more valuable with inflation over time, she is an incredible, extraordinary woman!  She taught me to have an attitude of gratitude.  In fact, not only should I show her my thanks and gratitude for the ways in which she cares for me, but I should also give her a compliment to remind her (and me) of just how fantastic she is.  It probably wasn't long after that when I began to say, "you're the best momma in the whole wide world!" If I haven't said it enough recently Mom, I am saying it now! 

McKenzie and Miller write in their book "Climb Higher" that nurturing generosity calls for a clear vision and committed leadership.  They go on to say, "But more than anything else, to attain the summit of enduring and effective stewardship requires inspiration! We are inspired to give, meant to give, and in the giving we are inspired or animated with new life.  In our giving we become like God." For the authors inspiration is crucial to stewardship.  They point to the most well known verse of Scripture to make their point, John 3:16.  What did God do because of his love for us?  He gave. He gave of himself out of great love for his creation.  

God is the giver of all things in our lives and when we seek God's guidance on how to use the gifts he has given us, we can find ourselves in a closer relationship with God.  Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, "we make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give." For the authors of "Climb Higher" Christian stewardship is grounded in gratitude, revealed in prayer, and lived in faith. If we are to be serious about enduring and effective stewardship, we need to create an attitude of gratitude!  A few weeks ago in worship we filled out gratitude cards and placed them in the offering plates.  It was wonderful to see the outpouring of thanksgiving from members, for family, friends, a a happy home and good health. 

We have a church member who has been diagnosed with cancer this summer.  He is a pillar in our congregation, he is an inspiration for all of us and we all feel the void ,see the empty seat in Sunday School and Worship since he has not felt well enough to be with us on Sunday mornings.  I went to visit him last week after he discovered that the cancer had spread and surgery was not going to be an option for him.  When he and his children who had all gathered there in the doctor's office heard this news his children were upset, understandably so.  But ever upbeat he said, "Don't be sad, look at what God has done, he has brought us all together today."   In all things, he gives thanks. 

When we can begin to reflect on our lives based on the sheer multitude of blessings we have received rather than the difficulties we face; life can become more bearable, in fact it becomes deeply enriched because suddenly we can name the ways in which God is working in our lives! Out of gratitude we turn to the Lord and say, "thank you Lord, you are a good God." We then ask God, based on all that he has given to us, what would God have us do?  How does God desire that we use our wealth, our health, our time and our talents to build up God's kingdom?  It is about being open to listening for God's call and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in living out that call. 

 Last week at our session meeting as we had the inevitable crunching of numbers and pouring over the church's finances, our Clerk of Session said, "I have decided to increase my giving by an additional 10%."  In doing this he showed his dedication to the church's ministry.  He also demonstrated his dedication to being a leader in the congregation.  This was not a moment of patting himself on the back, this was an honest moment of generosity by which he followed up his words with actions.  He had encouraged church members in the newsletter to increase their giving if they felt so moved and in then did so himself.  

I do hope that we have created and are continuing to nurture a culture in our church that is based on gratitude, prayer, and a willingness to answer God's call, whatever that call may be.  I pray that we might be strong enough to step out of our comfort zones, to go beyond what has always been done, and move to whatever we feel touched or called by the Lord to do. 

  Recall a time when you were nearly overcome with a profound sense of gratitude. What were the circumstances?  Did you feel inspired to do something, say something, or change something? 

Try to remember a time when you were intentional about listening for God's will in your life. What happened?