Unreasonable, Irrational, and Self-centered.

Good morning, it is Thursday, August 5, 2021

It's hard to do things for people and not get recognition, but I am reminded that we do acts of kindness because we are kind and good; it should not matter if we get a 'thank you' or recognition...keep doing good!

I had a friend not too long ago exclaim that they were no longer going to buy gifts for their grown children as they rarely-to-never got a thank you. That got me to thinking.

Sending a Thank You is very important! It is what one does to be polite and to show appreciation, however, if you are giving gifts expecting to be thanked, perhaps your motives are not properly aligned. If you love to plan and shop and wrap and mail, then plan, shop, wrap and mail! But expect nothing in return.

I can think of times in my life when I intended to send a thank you, time got away from me, I forgot. I did not intentionally not show my appreciation, but perhaps my priorities were not properly aligned.

I have a few friends that send thank you cards in the mail. My Aunt Dorothy. My friend Denise. It is special to receive a handwritten thank you in the mail. I think these ladies are rock-stars

You know, Jesus gave us the greatest gift of all. His life on a cross so that we might be saved for eternity with Him. How often have we sent Him a Thank You? By our words and our actions we show Him how thankful we are for the good gift of the cross.

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”

But His good gifts do not end there. Life is a gift. Your home is a gift. Your children and grandchildren are gifts. Nature is a gift, waterfalls and mountain streams and rivers and trees and flowers, all gifts! Your body, with its intricate design, is a gift!

James 1:17 ESV “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

But the gifts do not stop there. The Holy Spirit also gives gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 The Message Bible

“…Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel clear understanding simple trust healing the sick miraculous acts proclamation distinguishing between spirits tongues interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one-by-one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.”

Have you ever thought that your ‘simple trust’ or ‘clear understanding’ are gifts from the Holy Spirit? What incredible gifts indeed.

Isaiah 11:2-3 ESV “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,”

Every person does not have every gift. The Bible tells us that the spirit decides who gets what.

1 Corinthians 12:11 “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” ESV

I have the following on the wall in my office at work. Today is a good day to remind myself of it because sometimes people do not do the right thing.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. (This version is credited to Mother Teresa)

People will often let you down. Promises not kept. Actions not made. Words not spoken. Just remember, it was never between them and you. It has always been about you and God! Make God proud!