The other day I was listening to the radio on my way to pick up the kid from school. They gave an illustration, but because it was on the radio it was about 10 seconds long and you know I’m gonna add to it so here goes.
Imagine your great grandparents are alive and healthy. Since it’s the holiday season let’s say they are hosting Thanksgiving dinner. They have provided everything. No one had to do anything but come and they did, your entire family is there. Your great grandparents are obviously there since they are hosting at their house, their children (your grandparents and great aunts and uncles), your parents, and their siblings (your aunts and uncles), and all your cousins and their children. Literally everyone there is a descendant of your great grandparents. Your great grandparents are thrilled everyone is able to be there to celebrate this holiday. As family begins to come in through the side door because everyone knows the front door is only used by guest not family, they take off their coats and throw them on the bed in the bedroom because there isn’t enough room in the hall closet. All the kids begin playing together and inevitably fighting. Your great grandparents are putting the final touches on the meal with smiles beaming on their faces. To this point other than a passing hello, no one has spoken to your great grandparents. They notice but they are sure that once everyone sits to eat the family will talk to them. The family sits at one of the multiple tables that have been put up for the multitude, a obligatory prayer is said over the meal and they begin to eat. As the meal progresses no one speaks to the great grandparents. They sit at the end of the table trying to engage in the conversations, but no one will respond to them. At the end of the meal the family packs up their leftovers and gathers their belongings to leave. As they walk out the door they shout their goodbyes and request at the next gathering to have a blueberry lemon pie with streusel topping instead of pie crust topping or cornbread stuffing instead of chicken sausage and apple stuffing. The list goes on as each person gives their list of request.
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:11-19
Slightly off topic but just say thank you, because no one owes you anything, the great grandparents owed their children, grand children, and great grand children nothing and yet out of love they gave. In this illustration, it was your great grandparents, so they are without question up there in age, but in your everyday life it doesn’t have to be someone older. Crazy thought just say thank you to whoever cooked you a meal, took you somewhere, offered to let you drive their vehicle, or did any other nice thing for you. Maybe just be grateful for what you have been given, you are not entitled to what you were given. Sorry I went off on a small rant. Let’s go back to the illustration, shall we?
The great-grandparents gave to their family and did everything in their power to make the day wonderful because they love their family. There was no other reason yet their family was content to take and give nothing in return going so far as to request things be changed at the family gathering.
How often do we treat God the same? He owes us nothing and yet because He loves us He continues to give to us. He wants the day to be wonderful just for us and we barely speak to Him and when we do we have a list of things we want different. When did ‘thy will be done’ leave our vocabulary? I promise it’s in the Bible, asking God to do His will and not ours is legit a real thing.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:9-11
Even Jesus put His desires aside and asked for God the Father’s will to be done.
It’s easy to do a 30 days of thanks on social media, but do we actually appreciate what God has done for us? Do we truly understand what He has done for us so much that we want a relationship with Him? Do we read the Bible and spend time with Him daily or do we behave like the family in the illustration and take what is offered, but spend no time with Him. Without the great grandparents no one in that room would have existed just as without God none of us would exist. The great grandparents gave simply because they love their family just as God does for us based solely on His love for us.
On the day that I heard this illustration I opened the devotion book that evening for our family devotion and read the following “God’s Word and prayer are the most helpful spiritual tools we have to align our hearts with God.” It went on to say “Prayer aligns our lives with the will of God, allowing us to see Him for who He truly is and see ourselves for all we can be in Christ.”
How important spending quality time with God is for our lives. I wonder how much more full the lives of the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren would be if they had the great grandparents in their lives. How much more full and rich our lives would be if we had a real relationship with God instead of simply coming to His table only when we get something from Him.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:9-11