No gratitude - only grumbling!

"You said everything but what you needed to say. . . which was thank you!" It started at the car wash. Free newspapers were being given to each customer. With the thought that nothing much in this world is truly free, in jest, I questioned the quality of the newspapers - were the sports scores correct? The car wash attendant kindly shared his view that we have become so untrusting in our society; we can not even accept free gifts without grumbling or complaining. He went on to say, "All you need to do is say thank you."

The car wash manager had graciously "put me in my place". I was stung with the reality of my ungrateful attitude. My grumpy, grouchy, dissatisfied and, at times, surly moments give evidence of my heart - a truly ungrateful one!

If you are like me, we are not alone. Just six weeks after the Israelites had walked on dry ground as the Red Sea parted for their escape, they grumbled saying,

"If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted."
(Exodus 16:3 NIV)

The problem of grumbling - forgetting or choosing not to remember the faithfulness of God in the past - infects our souls. Let us look back at what God has done, choosing thankfulness instead.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Sharing the journey with you,