Faith United Methodist Church
Faith United Methodist Church
321 1st Avenue South, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085
Rev. Dr. Gerhardt Miller, Pastor
November 1, 2021
Dear Members and Friends of Faith United Methodist Church:
“Thanks” is a wonderful word. It is a marvelous principle. It is an energizing exercise. When we express sincere thanks, that is good. Whether we say the word, or write the word, or otherwise express our gratitude, “thanks” is good. Thankfulness is good for us all, whether we are giving appreciation, receiving appreciation, or living in appreciation.
Without gratitude, we cannot be happy. Any happiness we experience will be fleeting if we lack soulful appreciation. Thankfulness is absolutely fundamental to a joyful and meaningful life. If you had everything you ever wanted, and did not appreciate any of it, what good would “everything you ever wanted” do you? Without any gratitude, you would still be discontented.
And yet, as important as thanksgiving is for a happy life, it often seems it is an attitude difficult to practice. I know that I am not always thankful. I take much for granted. I suppose it is our human nature to overlook many basic blessings. Health, relationships, resources, and opportunities, are too easily overlooked as routine. I know that, and so do you. The cliché is so true: you do not know what you have until you lose it.
So, let us give God thanks for all of that we do have! We will be the better for it! We will be more joyful and so will the people in our homes, our communities, our workplaces, and our schools.
Let us give God thanks for this day and for all of the beauty in it. There is more beauty in this moment for you and me than we can fully know—nonetheless, it is good for us to try our best to be thankful.
May God bless us all with a genuine attitude of gratitude!
Gerhardt
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to thy name, O Most High;
to declare thy steadfast love in the morning, and thy faithfulness by night…
(Psalm 92:1 – 2)
