| Making the Most of Life |
Chapter 20 |
Page 7 |
But it is not enough that we be grateful and show our gratitude to the human friends who do us kindnesses. It is to God that we owe all. Every good and perfect gift, no matter how it reaches us, through what messenger, in what form, “cometh down from above, for the Father of lights.” All the blessing of Providence, all the tender things that come to us through human love and friendship, are God’s gifts.
“Whence came the father-heart in man,
The mother-heart in woman?
The love throughout the cosmic plan
Which makes God’s children human?
“These never came: what we control
Is good because ‘tis given,
And all made better to man’s soul
By the sweet touch of heaven.”
We owe thanks to God, therefore, for all that we receive. When we have shown gratitude to our human benefactors, we still owe our Heavenly Father thanks and gratitude. It is possible, too, for us to be grateful to the friends who help us, and yet be as atheists, never recognizing God, nor giving him any thanks. This is the sorest sin of all. We rob God, and hurt his heart, every time we receive any favour at whatsoever hand, and fail to speak our praise to him.
Whatever we may say about man’s ingratitude to his fellow men, there is no question about man’s lack of gratitude to God. We are continually receiving mercies and favours from him, and yet, are there not days and days with most of us, in which we lift no heart and speak no word in praise? Our prayers are largely requests and supplications for help and favour, with but little adoration and worship. We continue asking and asking, and God continues giving and giving; but how many of us remember always or often to give thanks for answered prayer? The angel of requests – so the legend runs – goes back from earth heavily laden every time he comes to gather up the prayers of men. But the angel of thanksgiving, of gratitude, has almost empty hands as he returns from his errands to this world. Yet ought we not to give thanks for all that we receive and for every answered request? If we were to do this, our hearts would always be lifted up toward God in praise.
There is a story of some great conductor of a musical festival suddenly throwing up his baton, and stopping the performance, crying, “Flageolet!” The flageolet was not doing its part and the conductor’s trained ear missed its one note in the large orchestra. Does not god miss any voice that is silent in the music of earth that rises up to him? And are there not many voices that are silent, taking no part in the song, giving forth no praise? Shall we not quickly start our heart song of gratitude, calling upon every power of our being to praise God?
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