Grateful For Friendships

Grateful for Friendships

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

My pastor once talked about how a thank-you that goes unexpressed gives the impression of ingratitude. When he said it, I felt so guilty. Too often, I have had every intention of sending a thank-you note to a friend or family member but, over time, simply forgot about it. It’s not that I’m ungrateful—just forgetful. I’m ashamed to admit that I have even taken the time to handwrite thank-you notes and still failed to send them. I’m pretty sure there are a few stray thank-yous tucked into my bedside table, lost in the depths of outdated paperwork and half-read novels.

Praising God and thanking him for his blessings is a priority for me. And it’s easy to remember to thank someone who does something tangible, in the space of a moment—a friend who drops off a meal, a neighbor who loans you a book or tool. But what about the friend who texts me prayers when she knows I’m having a hard day? How about the sister-in-law who tells me what a good mom I am? Or the friend who takes the time to genuinely interact with my children at church instead of bypassing them to talk to other adults? These are moments that I hold dear to my heart, but it’s rare for me to speak my gratitude aloud—and if I don’t do it right away, I’m much more likely to forget to send a message or note later on.

Can gratitude transform the way in which we approach our lives? Paul reminds us in Colossians that all our words and deeds should be done with thanksgiving and the remembrance that we are representatives of Jesus himself. Since we are his ambassadors, our thankfulness is an outward expression of the internal change in our lives, a reflection of God’s love for us.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Think of one or two specific people in your life whom you can thank for an act or word of encouragement. Send them a message or give them a call to express your thanks.