"Giving" Thanks

It was Sabrina’s birthday and the priority of the day was to deliver a birthday cake to her first grade class. On birthdays, during recess they light candles, sing "Happy Birthday" and devour the cake. It's a nice tradition. As I began to walk out the door, I realized I didn't have enough paper plates for the group.

In a panic, I launched my standard emergency plan: "Lord, help!"
Immediately, I thought of Angie, my neighbor. I ran to her house and, thankfully, she was home. I begged the needed supplies and (miracle of miracles) she had the very same "Winnie the Pooh" plates that matched my partial set. The day was saved. (Mothers know that when things like that happen it is a sure sign that God is involved!)

Later, when I had a moment, I went to the store and bought replacement plates for Angie. I also bought her a bouquet of flowers the size I give my mother on Mother's Day.

Why such a generous "thank you?” Because I now live in Switzerland. In Switzerland, you thank people for the things they do for you. You thank them in both word and deed.

I've lived in this country now for ten years and, in the beginning, this extravagant gift giving seemed ridiculous. But now, I see it differently. I think it's a nice custom, if rather expensive. For example, when you go to someone's house for dinner, you bring gifts. Gifts, as in plural. You bring a gift for the host, one for the hostess, and something for the children. It is a gesture of thanks for their generosity. Even when someone invites you for coffee, you do not arrive empty handed. Something is given to show your appreciation.

It can cost a lot to go to someone's home for dinner but I enjoy participating in these gift exchanges. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they "thank" you. What they give, how they give and how much they give speaks volumes.

After I dropped off the bouquet at Angie’s that afternoon the phrase “give thanks” ran through my head. That’s what I had been doing. I had been “giving thanks.” It had felt good to show someone in a physical, tangible way that I had appreciated what they had done for me. Giving Angie flowers, for even such a small act of kindness felt “right.” After all, her assistance had meant much to me.

And then I thought, "But it was really the Lord who had been my help. How had I thanked Him?" He had been the one who had directed my path and made my way successful.

In honesty, I'd tossed Him up a "Whew, You came through for me. Thanks!" Comparing that with what I had just done for my neighbor struck me as seriously wrong. He deserves more.

And then I wondered, does He expect more?

Being from an American culture, sometimes it seems we rarely do more for people then deliver a quick, "Thanks a lot." Sometimes we even add, "I really appreciated what you did" or "I owe you one!" But, more times than not, we offer little more.

Some time ago, I figured out that God is not an American. Hard to believe, but true. He's from another culture. In His Word, God commanded us many times to “give thanks.” But what exactly did He mean?

Was God referring to the standard, "thanks a lot", or possibly something more? Maybe something that takes a bit more time? A little more thought? More effort? Some sort of sacrifice? Perhaps a gift?

I'm not sure. But I know that from now on, I plan on paying more attention to what I "give" as "thanks" when I "give thanks."

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