Don't Forget to Say Thank You

 Yesterday, First Southern blessed Brenda and I with multiple cards for pastor appreciation month. Those cards included blessings for us. Some included money while others included gift cards. They showered us with their love. They are a loving and generous flock. 

I spent most of the morning writing thank  you letters. Why? On the day I made my call to preach public to the Denman Avenue Baptist Church in Lufkin, TX, Brother Charles Roberts whispered some advice to me after most of the people came and shook my hand. He said, "Don't forget to say thank you when people bless you." I guess he knew that a preacher gets blessed a lot. Just a couple of weeks ago one of our church members bought our lunch on a Sunday after worship. We did not even know they were in the restaurant. That has happened numerous times. A couple in our church gave us a push lawn mower soon after we purchased our house. Another man did some repair work on one of our vehicles refusing to take payment for it. We had a blow out coming from Amarillo one day. Turns out that car did not even have a jack in it. I called one of our deacons for help. Another deacon rolled up and saw us stranded. I can't say for sure, but the following day some money showed up on my desk for the purchase of new tires. I think one of them blessed us. I could go on and on with the blessings. 

Brenda and I have tried to be faithful to say thank you. We try to send out thank you letters. We have done this for over three decades of ministry together. It is important. We do not take blessings for granted when we know the sacrifice people make for us. 

We certainly don't take the blessings from God for granted. They are too numerous to count. We cannot give Him enough thanks. I know in a little over two weeks we will be in the Thanksgiving Holiday season. Challenges will be issued to be thankful for something everyday. Preachers will preach on gratitude. I am thankful for the advice of Brother Charles telling me not to forget to say thank you. I am going to contact him now and thank him for such great advice. I hope you will take to this heart and not forget to say thank you to those around you.