I am not a cook.
It is thus a blessing to be surrounded by outstanding cooks. I cannot justifiably complain about this fact. That means come dinner time more often than not, I am in for a treat.
As I was brought up my loving parents, I was instructed that it was good manners to say thanks after receiving something good. With my Mum obviously being the greatest cook the world has ever known, there were plenty of opportunities to put that thanksgiving into practice. She would produce the dish on which was her culinary mastery. I would look with a huge grin on my face and knife and fork at the ready. Minutes later as the last morsels rumbled into my tummy, I would look reverently at my Mother and say “Thanks Mummy!” Then of course I would quickly leave the table so I could get to the television in time to watch The A-Team (priorities, you see).
It has been engrained in me to say thanks. What I detected recently, however, is that there’s a lot more to thanksgiving than just saying thanks. Indeed I caught myself using the sentiment as a polite way of dismissal. I had finished a meal and when asked how it was, rather than admitting I found it to be a bland consumption experience, I smiled amicably and thanked them for the meal. The thanks was a cover from sharing my true feelings and left the person asking with a less than accurate reflection on how things were with me.
I was arrested by this act of duplicity and challenged to consider what is packed in the term of thanksgiving. When we give thanks we acknowledge someone serving us in some way and express those thanks as appreciation. The service has benefitted us and we reflect that in the response.
As I endured the rebuke what was also brought to my attention was that thanksgiving should naturally accompany praise. It should go along with it because in acknowledging the benefit I receive from the service, I must at least declare what good there was. When I point out that good I praise that which has been done.
Unfortunately, I grew up thinking that praise was either singing or just using fall back terms like ‘praise the Lord’ and ‘hallelujah’ sprinkled with the occasional ‘glory’ and ‘bless Him’. The realisation dawned on me over time that praise is the activity of pointing out everything positive that benefits us from the target of the praise. That covers far more than glibly repeating like a parrot the terms of the norm.
I didn’t struggle when it came to showering praise when it came to football. “What a sensational pass! Look at that skill to get past that player! Superb goal, simply superb!” I could wax lyrical about all those beneficial aspects of the game.
The same applies to great cooking. When I have consumed a good meal, you will know all about it. I noticed my daughters having a knack of likewise being able to speak highly of great meals they eat. They need no motivation to do so, it flows straight from their hearts. Of course it’s to their mother, not me – remember I am not a cook. When I notice them doing that, I chuckle and show appreciation to God for it.
So when it comes to thanksgiving it is something inextricably connected to praise. That is about His magnificent character, His glorious acts, everything good that comes from him.
Thus giving thanks for something cannot afford to be paying lip service, or covering up for something else. Just as praise isn’t about just singing or repeating to phrases. The heart in response to the goodness of God from God expresses itself with depth and rich meaning.
That is a condition of the heart that touches our behaviour, enlightens our speech and impacts key relationships around us.
When it comes to praise and thanksgiving, I don’t have to be a cook to know that God welcomes me to make a meal out of it.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 