Learning how and when to say "Thank you" is an important part of growing up. Mom often told of the time she picked up my sister after a party at her little girlfriend's house. When Mom asked my sister if she had thanked her friend's mother for the party, she enthusiastically replied, "Oh yes! But I forgot to tell her." My sister's heart was in the right place. And, knowing Mom, I'm sure she saw to it that my sister did thank her friend's mother. Feeling grateful is a good starting point for giving thanks, and in learning how and when to do it. This is especially true when it comes to giving thanks to God—an essential part of maturing spiritually.
When we feel deeply moved by a sense of God's love in our lives, we may very likely find ourselves saying with the Psalmist, "O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." Ps. 30:12 But how can we feel thankful to God more consistently—and follow through by giving thanks to Him in the most appropriate and effective ways?
We can begin by looking beyond what the world might consider as outward evidence of God's goodness, or any suggested lack thereof, to considering prayerfully what it is that God truly is giving to us. Because God is Spirit, all that He imparts is spiritual, not material. It's entirely good and enduring. The spiritual qualities and ideas He gives are true substance. When we accept them and utilize them, they are manifest in practical ways in our lives.
