My darling Grace has been begging for a snow globe for a couple of years. There is something about the way the snow wraps around the glass bowl that mesmerizes my sweet girl.  If one of the snow globes she happens to see in a store also plays music, you can see her bright eyes glow with excitement as she winds the object. 

Eddie and I have not purchased her one knowing that one drop of the glass globe, and she would be crushed.  Not that she has stopped asking.  Every time we see one she begins begging and pleading almost to our frustration knowing that she is not quite old enough.  

Last weekend we were at Home Depot getting some Christmas decorations for our house, and she spotted a beautiful snow globe that happen to play Christmas music.  I let her carry it around the store playing the music and expressing her love for the beauty of the globe.  We were in Home Depot a very long time.  So long that we lost Eddie.  As we were trying to find him I watched her.  She never asked for me to buy it, there was no pleading or begging.  She was just appreciating the time she had with it.  It hit me that her sense of entitlement to the object had changed to a welcomed respect for Eddie and my decision to wait it out.

It was almost more than my heart could take when I asked her to take it back and she did so with little commentary.  As I watched her sweet heart change from entitlement to the object to appreciation of it, I wanted to reward her.  I pulled her aside and told her because she had the right attitude I would buy it for her.  She almost didn’t believe me at first, her eyes a little misty she grabbed the box and headed for the register.  After the clerk gave us the bag, she was overcome with Thanksgiving to me for giving her what she wanted.

I think today of our culture and the idea of Thanksgiving this week.  I wonder today if we as a whole have a heart of Thanksgiving or entitlement....  I have noticed that it is harder and harder to come by someone that is sincerely thankful for a service rendered or a gift given.  We expect presents at birthdays, and excellence in everything even down to the barista at Starbucks. Lot’s of times someone does something for us, and we forget to say a quick thank you.

There is a story of ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19.  When the 10 lepers saw Jesus enter the city they cried to Him for healing begging and pleading for Him to heal them.  He answered their cry and told them to present themselves to the priest to be healed.  After presenting himself to the priest only ONE of the healed lepers came back to Jesus.

vs. 16

And he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him.  And he was a Samaritan.

vs. 17

Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But nine--where are they? (18) Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”

This story is incredible convicting to me.  Jesus had just given one of the biggest blessings one could ask for, and performed a huge service for these men, and ONLY ONE remembered to thank Him.  

I fear they felt so entitled to the healing they forgot to praise the Healer Himself.

Do you have an entitled heart or a heart of Thanksgiving?  Do you expect things from people or God in such a way that when your way is given you you don’t even remember to take a minute and praise them for it?  

PRAISE GOD TODAY, FOR HE IS GOOD.  HE IS SO WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE!!!!

Psalm 92:1a

It is good to give thanks to the Lord..

Psalm 95:2a

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving.

Psalm 100:4a

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name.

Psalm 105:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name..

Psalm 106:1a

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

Psalm 107:1a

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

Psalm 111:1

Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all your heart.