Lessons From Ezraಮಾದರಿ

Gratitude Can Change Everything

What are the ways you celebrate good things?

My wife and I generally celebrate with food: a special meal, an evening snack, or a splurge on a favorite juice we don’t usually get. Food helps us mark the moment as something significant.

How do you say “thank you” to God? How do you recognize God in your moments of celebration?

Saying “thank you” isn’t always the easiest thing for men to do. It requires that we acknowledge that we did not do everything on our own. We were not all that was needed for the situation to be completed. We couldn’t tie things up ourselves. Someone had to help us.

There may be some toxic elements to an inability to say “thank you,” which make it hard for us to be grateful for the aid and assistance of others. But the stark reality is that we cannot do it all on our own.

We need not only each other, but desperately and deeply need God.

Then the question turns to how we acknowledge Him in our lives.

As the Israelites returned to the Promised Land from their time of exile, they felt the need to celebrate. They were back in the Promised Land because God had moved in the hearts of foreign leaders to make it happen. They needed to say “thank you” to God for His faithfulness and deliverance.

If you are anything like me, a sincere “thank you” is par for the course. We say “thank you” and we mean it, but it sometimes seems a little shallow, especially when we compare it to how the Israelites showed their gratitude in today’s reading.

The people brought gifts to help the effort to rebuild the Temple! When was the last time the idea of contributing to the current building project ran through your mind as a way to say “thank you” to God? Or even just giving extra in the offering plate as it passes by?

Showing gratitude allows us to see something bigger than ourselves. For the Israelites, it allowed them to see the Temple, which had not yet been built. They saw themselves celebrating its completion; they saw God at work.

When we say “thank you,” we open ourselves to things that are beyond us.

Prayer: God in Heaven, thank You for the work You have done on my behalf. Forgive me for shallow and cheap expressions of gratitude. Help me to say “thank You” in a way that helps me see You and Your goodness. Amen.

Reflection: How can you show God gratitude this week?