A couple years ago, my church and I went to Atlantic City to bless the people who had been affected by Hurricane Sandy. We got together that morning and spent a couple hours putting together sandwiches and care packages for anyone we could find who could use them. It was a great feeling, and I couldn't wait to hand them out and just be a blessing to people.
When we got there, there were a number of people were grateful, and it blessed me. But there were also a lot of people who felt entitled and greedy; people who tried to usurp the whole supply of care packages, people who demanded we give them the packages, and people who walked away without saying thank you. It was a great reminder to me that I wasn't doing this for my own accolades, but to glorify God and show His love.
Though it was a learning experience for me, that's not the point of this article I am writing. God revealed something to me about gratitude. He reminded me that I found little enjoyment in blessing people with something they felt they already deserved that day in Atlantic City, and then He gently asked me to put myself in His shoes. I'll admit I'm constantly asking God for things out of my own selfishness, and often I get mad when I don't get them. "Why do other people get a house, a family, a six figure salary? Why do they get these things, and I don't have them, God?" Yes, I have a sense of entitlement as well. I feel as if I am owed these things, that I deserve these things, I often demand these things, and if I don't get these things, I am bitter. If I do get these things, I probably won't even say thank you or appreciate that God did something for me that He didn't have to. That's no fun for God!
May we always remember to be thankful every day for our blessings. Not only because it will give us great peace, but it will also bring Him great joy!
