"To the Giver"

    In those times when we feel unappreciated, we do well to consider God's sensibilities in like circumstances.

    "He giveth to all life and breath and all things... Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (Acts 17:25; James 1:17).

    Our Heavenly Father does not require our gratitude, and is perfectly fulfilled with or without it.  Nor does He do what He does for us in order to be thanked.  Nevertheless, He doubtless finds blessing in our appreciation, just as we appreciate affirmation for the things we do.  He likely also grieves when we fail to live a life of thanksgiving, not so much because of His emotional sensibilities, but because of what it says about our spiritual understanding and recognition.  An unthankful heart is a blind heart at best, and a bitter one at worst.  A.WTozer once wrote that "thanksgiving is the sweetener of the soul."  Indeed, a challenging world will foster bitterness in anyone who fails to open his eyes amid the difficulties of life in order to see how blessed we all really are.  Our very breath, including the next one, comes to us from a God who could justifiably banish every one of us to everlasting perdition.  Instead, He offers His grace and mercy to all, and freely redeems unto eternal life with Himself all who trust in the greatest beneficence of all, the Lord Jesus Christ: "Now thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (II Corinthians 9:15).

     The God whom Solomon declares to find delight in our prayers must especially rejoice when He hears from His trusting children the simplicity of "Thank You, Father" (Proverbs 15:8).  If this be so, and certainly it is, this very moment offers the opportunity of blessing the heart of One who perpetually blesses and provides for us.  Thus, we close to get out of the way in order that we may all express our heartfelt gratitude to the Giver of every good gift and every perfect gift...

"I thank Thee and praise Thee, o God of my fathers."
(Daniel 2:23)