Thanks

It’s not quite winter yet, but it surely how has felt like it, thanks to hurricane Sandy. The cold wind brings to mind these words.

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind,

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude."

They come from Amiens, a character in William Shakespeare’s, "As You Like It." While nature can be harsh and cold, it is nothing compared to human ingratitude.

Of nature, Amiens continues to sing, "That dost not bite so nigh as benefits forgot: Though thou waters warp, they sting is not so sharp as friend remember'd not."

Ingratitude, ungratefulness, a lack of saying "thanks," really does sting, doesn’t it? We all can recall, probably with a great deal of passion, when and where someone did not properly thanks us for something we did. It’s easy to get focused on those times. It’s the stuff of bitterness.

Let’s do the hard work and really examine our own lives, instead of pointing at others. Let’s look for pockets of unexpressed gratitude. It’s easy to overlook the help and kindness of others, isn’t it? Who do I need to thank? And for what?

Colossians 2:6,7 — So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.