We should worship the Lord even before he blesses us!

We should Worship the Lord even before he blesses us!

It is a foregone conclusion that we shouldn't need blessings before God gives us what we need.  However, the actual return of thankfulness to God for all he blesses us with is just a “taken for granted” response.  How does God take this “just give me more” attitude coming from his wandering children who seek as much as they can receive for us?  

Perhaps we should go back to Adam and Eve and look at how much the Lord handed over to them without the slightest sign of thanks.  In fact, it wasn’t until they were found to be naked with the signs of disobedience that their guilt became obvious even to them.  (Gn 3: 8 - 13).

 Should God have punished them after they had everything and never gave any response of gratitude when they needed to do nothing in return?  The only thanks for them as well as you and I is to take care of all we are given and to be content with these gifts of love.  Just like our first parents we sometimes also ignore the eternal generosity of our Father who gives us himself because of his eternal love.  Is there any reason why the one neglect from humanity is to just expect more and not even ascertain any semblance of thanks?

Americans have enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving since November 1621.  Each of these pioneers who escaped the tyranny of old England began a tradition that has outlasted many other events from those early days.  What makes this celebration so unique is a time without sharing gifts, a tree decorated with tinsel, and children searching for Easter eggs outside.  These days of joy and handing gifts are important, but without the real meaning their sustenance leaves a lot to be desired.  Giving the realism of togetherness and hopeful righteousness, Thanksgiving gets us closer to God’s gifts of hope and peace.  

As we always look to Jesus and his moments of thanking his Father, first, before a specific mission,we also must follow these simple but profound words; “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”  (Mt 11: 25).

“Father, the hour has come.  Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you.”  (Jn 17: 1).  A resounding word of thanking his Father for his remaining time on earth and the completion of his mission.

What has happened in America as well as other Christian nations who at one time gave thanks to the God of mercy and his Son Jesus Christ for all the blessings we all enjoy?   Has the virtue of thanking God for his blessings on mankind become an old cliche that no one thinks to remember the tragedies we have been saved from?

Remember that when we worship the Lord, we are in fact thanking him for our lives and forgiveness, even if we forget what the blessings are.  Going to bed at night, thank him for that day’s blessings.  Upon waking up, thank God for the unseen events that will enter our life, today.

They both are perfect moments of thanksgiving without turkey, but with blessings untold.

Ralph B. Hathaway