Thank you! Such simple, powerful, life-changing words. How important is thankfulness anyway? Why is unthankfulness such a sin?  Think of it like this: 

A grateful heart is incredibly powerful.  It affects our spirit, our health, and even our relationships.  When we are unthankful we also tend to be surly, self-focused, and shallow. Our spirit is “down” and we struggle to have joy.  Our health is affected because unthankful and unhappy people more often struggle with headaches, joint pain, and sleeplessness (just google and read all the articles available) whereas those who are thankful and more happy see the exact opposite.  Unthankfulness also damages relationships because we end up being “takers” rather than “givers” and no one wants to become closer with a person who tends to always fall into the first category.  

A grateful heart has to be expressed verbally.  Is it possible to say “thank you” too much? Perhaps, if my doing so becomes annoying in some way. However, for most of us, that is likely never an issue. Most of us struggle with the exact opposite and should be saying “thank you” far more than we do.  When we express gratitude it brings joy to those who serve us.  It lifts others spirits and makes their service a pleasure instead of a duty. It actually draws people to us instead of driving them away.  When a husband thanks his wife for her love, her work, her service to her family, their relationship becomes stronger. When a wife expresses her gratefulness for all that her husband does in the normal routines of his day, his work becomes a joy and a blessing.  When our kids say thank you for the chores their siblings do, the entire family benefits.  When we say thank you for every act of kindness, we encourage others, lift their spirits, and make their life better! Gratitude really is an amazing thing.

A grateful heart is a lifestyle with very powerful ramifications.  As I learn to be grateful, I become aware of God’s goodness in my life. I recognize that I don’t deserve to be as blessed as I am and, in turn, I become even more grateful. I tend to have more humility and less pride. I more readily “count my many blessings” and have a happier heart. Thankfulness is that powerful. 

Can you see why the sin of unthankfulness is such a big deal?  It robs us of joy. We are less happy and less enjoyable to be around.  It robs us of deeper and more meaningful relationships.  We become so self-focused that no one enjoys our company and no one delights in doing things for us.  It robs us of greater blessings. No one will give “good gifts” nor serve and unthankful person – at least not for very long.  

So go ahead. It is a new week. Ask God to forgive you for having an ungrateful heart. Ask those around you to forgive you too.  Then get to work showing gratitude. Say thank you as often as you can. Text it. Write it.  Live it.  The benefits are life-changing.

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Thanks for reading.

Your sincere friend,

Dave Young