Gratitude

Are you a grateful person? I think that most folks would answer,well I try to be. The question is then, How well do you succeed? I was thinking today of some folks to whom I owe a great deal of appreciation and thanksgiving. So, i wrote them an e-mail appreciation gram and sent some other material that I have written and sent it on its way. that made me feel better and be happy (joyful) and right that I had made an effort to let these could folks know how I appreciate them.

Well, I thought to myself, how many folks should you be writing too, to share the same thoughts with them? My list keeps getting longer, so I will try to do better everyday. Do you know that the idea of gratitude comes from God, in scripture? Not from Islam, nor Budda, not Ben Franklin but from God! I double dare you to research that! Most people left to ourselves, at least in history are very selfish, self-centered folks, but when God made man and women(Adam and Eve) He made us to be grateful human beings! (Please excuse me for a few moments, my wife just hollored down that the hot rolls were ready. I would certainly be ungrateful if I didn't go upstairs and participate.)

What is the best guard against self-centeredness or selfishness? I believe it Jesus and His teaching on gratefulness. I have may folks to thank for the good life I have lived. Take Good Ben, you know Benjamin Franklin. If he had not been involved in the revolutionary war,the Declaration of Independence and a great many other projects my life might have been as good as it has from the standpoint at of living in the United states of America. What about Mrs. Smith, my first grade teacher, I was a shy little boy? It is my guess that you can think of many people to put on a list of your own. I could not leave out my parents who taught me the idea and action of being thankful. Let me tell you, If you want to be happy in this human life, learn to thankful and first thankful to God for sending Jesus to save us! Dave Dowlen