Grateful

In the last days there will come times of stress. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful . . . (2 Timothy 3:1–2)

Notice how ingratitude goes with pride, abuse and insubordination.

In another place Paul says, “Let there be no obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking . . . but rather thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:4). So it seems that gratitude is the opposite of ugliness and violence.

The reason this is so is that the feeling of gratitude is a humble feeling not a proud one. It is other-exalting, not self-exalting. And it is glad-hearted not angry or bitter.

The key to unlocking a heart of gratitude and overcoming bitterness and ugliness and disrespect and violence is a strong belief in God, the Creator and Sustainer and Provider and Hope-giver. If we do not believe we are deeply indebted to God for all we have or hope to have, then the very spring of gratitude has gone dry.

So I conclude that the rise of violence and sacrilege and ugliness and insubordination in the last times is a God-issue. The basic issue is a failure to feel gratitude at the upper levels of our dependence.

When the high spring of gratitude to God fails at the top of the mountain, soon all the pools of thankfulness begin to dry up further down the mountain. And when gratitude goes, the sovereignty of the self condones more and more corruption for its pleasure.

Pray for a great awakening of humble gratitude.

~by John Piper

The above was stolen from Lisa's blog.  I love what Piper says here.  In our home we do our best to display and teach an "attitude of gratitude."  We fall short and are not perfect, but we feel strongly about starting there- in humble gratitude.

Also stolen from Lisa's blog (she's really smart and finds really great stuff!), which is just so sobering:

This year we paused on two different days to say "Thanks."

Her side...Saturday, Nov. 22nd

 Tim starts his kids young.  Sadie, at four months, is already super impressive with her balancing skills.

I stole this idea from Meg when she did it 5 years ago at Mason's first birthday.  I only wish we'd started it 5 years ago and made it an annual tradition.  Hilarious fun for all!!!

 It was a wonderful day just being together.  At this point the kids are very much off on their own, needing very little from the adults.  It's always delightful to spend time together, retelling stories, remembering certain incidences and injuries, sharing inside jokes, making each other laugh, creating new memories.  Family.

Elizabeth sent pictures from her camera, too.

I can't even describe how 'sweet' it is to watch all the cousins growing up together.  I suppose in some families it's normal and obvious, but having not had that as a child myself, it's crazy-awesome to see my kids growing up with grandparents and cousins they consider to be their best friends.

 Baby Sadie's first Thanksgiving.

 Waiting (not so) patiently for strings to be adjusted.

Doing the 'Saturday before' has worked wonderfully for years now.  It means we can all be together on that day, but free to spend Thursday with the in-laws.  This year we were especially thankful that Lisa could be with us.  I think we've all been sobered, realizing just how quickly things can change.

His side...Thursday, Nov. 27th
After a two year break, we were back at the big house for Thanksgiving.  After staying over the night before, we chose to skip the Road Race and opted for a lazy morning of big breakfast, watching the parade, and staying warm inside.

Nailed it!  Haha!  Had I had a proper platter, I could've done better.  It was a hit with the kids except for Trevor who said, "It's weird.  It's wings are freakishly long."

A little chat with Germany.

That moment when you're talking about how much you want a Mini iPad and your Papa walks into the room and hands you one.  Uh, yep!  That happened!  Even Ninny was surprised!  Hahahahahaa!  I wonder how that conversation went later.  Well, kid, that's your Christmas and birthday for the next two years!

 Renna made good use of her knife.