Think and thank

Happiness is born out of contentment and contentment is being grateful for what we have without worrying about what we don't have. The perpetually happy people are perpetually grateful people. When we constantly think and thank God for what he has already blessed us with we discover happiness. In the old Anglo-Saxon language, being "thankful" meant, being "thinkful". One can even find the words 'Think' and 'thank' inscribed in many of the Cromwellian Churches in England.

A little boy wrote a letter to God, put it in an envelope addressed "To: God" and dropped it in the post box. While sorting letters, a postal employee, curious as he was, opened the letter which read "Dear God, my name is Jimmy, I am eight years old. My dad passed away and my mum is having a tough time in looking after me and my sister. Please send me 500 dollars". Touched by the letter the postal employee circulated the letter among the staff. They made a generous contribution of 300 dollars.  The 300 dollars was sent to the boy's address.

A week later the post office received another envelope from the boy, addressed to God.   The letter read; "Dear God, thank you so much for the 300 dollars. But next time, please make sure you send it directly to my home as the post office has deducted 200 dollars as commission!" 

The people of Israel who suffered slavery at the hands of the Egyptians for generations were delivered by the Lord and lead away from Egypt by Moses and Aaron. But there came a point in time when they grumbled angrily against Moses and Aaron "It is better for us to go back to Egypt and die there" (Numbers 14). They even grumbled against the food (manna) that God provided them. They did not think and thank. They were not grateful to God for delivering them from a wretched life of slavery and torture. They became a discontented lot.

We all have a past where there may be something to thank God about. When we think about this past and become thankful, the present becomes a moment of joy and the future looks hopeful.  

St. Paul says "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God"(I Thessalonians 5:18) Jesus himself was constantly thankful.

Jesus gave thanks to the Heavenly father before every miracle. Jesus thanked the Heavenly father at the last supper with his disciples.

When Evangelist Charles Spurgeon was robbed on the streets of London, he returned home to tell his wife "I thank God the robber took my money, not my life. I thank God I did not carry much money, the rest was at home. I thank God I was not the robber".
So, think and thank.