I have always been naturally feeling disposed to feelings of gratitude. But over the last several years that feeling has grown so that I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world. It has grown because I have made an intentional effort to think about all I have that I don’t deserve.. At the top of the list of things I have for which I am extremely grateful for is my relationships.
DIVINE RELATIONSHIPS
My most important relationship is the one I have with my creator. Because of the mysterious nature of this relationship (i.e. I can’t talk to Him or see Him like I can other people), it might seem strange to put this relationship at the top. But there are three reasons I put God first. To begin with, I am aware that it is a relationship that is born out of His grace. I don’t deserve it. The Bible is clear that I am messed up; the Bible calls it sin. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it.” And in Isaiah 53:6 we read, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” These are just two of many verses.
Since I received Jesus as my savior in High School it has been my desire to live a godly life. But I am aware, after all these years, how far I am from achieving this goal. I still get angry at silly things, impatient in traffic and long lines, and envious of others who appear to have a better life than I do. These are just a few sins that are still part of my daily experience. I know that if it was not for the grace of God, His love, and the plan to have Jesus die for my sins, I would have no relationship with my creator. I have always found great encouragement in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works so that no one can boast.” My salvation and relationship with God is a gift I don’t deserve.
The second reason this relationship is so important is that it gives
me hope. When good things happen or I see great beauty in creation (a sunset, a snow capped mountain peak, or a rainforest), I have someone to thank for the gift. These are spontaneous prayers of gratitude, and I can’t imagine not having anyone to thank for the life I enjoy. I also find that prayer comes naturally to me when I am alone and thinking of others or of problems I can’t solve. Because of my relationship with God, I have a place to go where I know that there is someone who cares, is in control, and has a plan. Of course, often I don’t understand that plan any more than Willy Nelson understands why he must be on-leash when we are outside, or why I don’t give him more food when it is just behind the pantry door. But I find great hope in talking to someone who loves me and has a plan, whether I understand it or not.
Third, it is God that enables all my other relationships to work so
well. Although human relationships are so important to our mental health, these relationships are hard because we are ALL sinners. Whenever we try to form any relationship with another person there will be hurt and disappointment. Good relationships are all based on sacrifice, confession, generosity, humility, repentance, and forgiveness. And because acts of sacrifice, confession, generosity, humility, repentance, and forgiveness don’t come naturally, a growing relationship with God makes all these qualities come easier.
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre wrote, “Hell is other people.” But the opposite is true. Other people are a gift that makes life worth living. In so many ways other people bring the most profound joy into my life. The depth of my relationships ranges from my deep intimate relationship with my wife of 48 years to the casual exchange I had with a person working at the hardware store this morning. Although relationships and friendships are hard and often disappointing, I can’t imagine a life without them. And like my relationship with God, I don’t deserve all the friends and acquaintances I have.
One of my favorite movies is “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The movie is
about George Bailey who shows small acts of kindness his whole life. At a moment of crisis in his life he realizes that he has lost a sizable amount of money and is in deep despair. My favorite scene is at the end when all his friends come through the door to help him. My favorite moment in that scene is when his brother holds up a glass and says, “A toast to my big brother George: the richest man in town.” He really was the richest man in town.
In the same way, I am fabulously rich. Not because I have millions of dollars hidden away in a bank, but because I have good friends scattered across the country. Yesterday we mailed 260 Christmas cards and, although we were not able to write notes on each one, we thanked God that we have the privilege of knowing so many wonderful people. As we travel through California, Arizona, and New Mexico, we are having such a good time visiting with friends we know well, those who are only casual acquaintances, and those who are becoming new friends for us. We are also excited as we plan to cross into Texas in the next couple of days and then head east to Louisiana and Florida, and finally to head north this spring. What a privilege to see the most beautiful sights in all of creation: other people.
I pray that today you will take a moment and thank God for His grace, and for your relationship with Him because of that grace. I also pray that you will thank God for all the people in your life.
