In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we read: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
“In everything?” Timmy tilted his head, his eyebrows dipping.
“Even when bad things happen?” His shoulders drooped. “When I don’t feel like it?”
“Yes, son,” Grandfather said. “Now mind you, I didn’t say it was easy but it’s necessary.” Grandfather smiled.
“I have a Thanks Box on the kitchen table. Each time you follow the Thanks Rule, you’re allowed to open it. What do you say? Ready to try it?”
“I don’t know, Grandfather. Sounds kind of silly to have a Thanks Box. What will my friends say about it?”
Grandfather rubbed the back of his neck. “You don’t have to do it. You decide what’s more important--giving thanks in everything or pleasing your friends.”
“I’ll wait. Okay if I go over to Sam’s?” At Grandfather’s nod, he left.
Later that afternoon, when Timmy came into the kitchen, he jerked to a stop. “Grandfather, is this the Thanks Box on the table? The big one tied with the red ribbon?” He leaned close. “Sure is wrapped nice.”
“There’s one way to find out what’s inside,” Grandfather said as he leaned against the door frame. “Open it. But you must follow the rules.”
Timmy stared at the box. Instead of giving thanks, he turned on his heel but as he got to the kitchen door, he did an about face. “I’m sorry I was stubborn. Thank you for loving me, Grandfather.”
“Let’s check out the Thank Box. Open it.” Grandfather laughed as Timmy’s face flushed with pleasure.
“All kind of chocolates,” he said. “And I almost missed them.”
“Not all your favorite flavors but they’re chocolate.”
Kingdom Thinking. By giving thanks in everything doesn’t mean I manipulate the Lord. The wonderful result of rejoicing and giving thanks is the change in my flavor of thanks--my attitude. The Lord Jesus promises to love me and never leave nor forsake me. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come?
“In everything?” Timmy tilted his head, his eyebrows dipping.
“Even when bad things happen?” His shoulders drooped. “When I don’t feel like it?”“Yes, son,” Grandfather said. “Now mind you, I didn’t say it was easy but it’s necessary.” Grandfather smiled.
“I have a Thanks Box on the kitchen table. Each time you follow the Thanks Rule, you’re allowed to open it. What do you say? Ready to try it?”
“I don’t know, Grandfather. Sounds kind of silly to have a Thanks Box. What will my friends say about it?”
Grandfather rubbed the back of his neck. “You don’t have to do it. You decide what’s more important--giving thanks in everything or pleasing your friends.”
“I’ll wait. Okay if I go over to Sam’s?” At Grandfather’s nod, he left.
Later that afternoon, when Timmy came into the kitchen, he jerked to a stop. “Grandfather, is this the Thanks Box on the table? The big one tied with the red ribbon?” He leaned close. “Sure is wrapped nice.”
“There’s one way to find out what’s inside,” Grandfather said as he leaned against the door frame. “Open it. But you must follow the rules.”
Timmy stared at the box. Instead of giving thanks, he turned on his heel but as he got to the kitchen door, he did an about face. “I’m sorry I was stubborn. Thank you for loving me, Grandfather.”
“Let’s check out the Thank Box. Open it.” Grandfather laughed as Timmy’s face flushed with pleasure.
“All kind of chocolates,” he said. “And I almost missed them.”
“Not all your favorite flavors but they’re chocolate.”
Kingdom Thinking. By giving thanks in everything doesn’t mean I manipulate the Lord. The wonderful result of rejoicing and giving thanks is the change in my flavor of thanks--my attitude. The Lord Jesus promises to love me and never leave nor forsake me. He offers the same to you. Won’t you come?
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