Thank You | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1858

"Thank You."

How easy to say it. How much better one feels after one has accepted, or had the offer of a favor, to say, Thank you. Then the donor is satisfied that his or her kind intentions are appreciated, and good feeling prevails because that gratitude on the one part and benevolence on the other, give an equal balance, and mutual good-will prevails. But if favors are received with apathy and indifference, as though they were only due, and no gratitude manifested, then the order of nature is reversed, and the music of harmonious law is jarred in its softest strains, and only a mighty effort of faith on the part of the giver, can prompt to perseverance in his acts of benevolence.

O then let us cherish gratitude and all the kindly feelings it engenders, and in this exercise of true good manners for the slightest favors, we shall win the good will of benefactors, and the approval of God. Mankind are in a degree dependent upon each other for happiness, and it is the acknowledging of the law of nature which gives harmony. The claims of God and man exact it of us.

Gratitude is opposed to selfishness in every form, and properly followed out would prompt to every virtuous action, and to obedience to every revealed and natural law. Mankind would never have eaten of the forbidden fruit; never have trampled the word of God in the dust, had they cultivated gratitude to God; for this would have influenced them to honor him and his law from emotions of gratitude alone; and by cherishing gratitude towards earthly friends for slight favors, we may be led to thank our Creator for the inestimable gifts of his hand: for life and its blessings, and above all for the offers of eternal life by Christ's sufferings and atonement.

His favors come down to us in an unfailing stream, the good and the evil, the just and the unjust, are the hourly recipients of his liberality, and as to our hope of eternal life this is truly a miracle. After our forfeiture of Eden by disobedience, that the Lord of life should devise a plan of redemption, this is an astonishing act of benevolence.

This is the evidence which we possess of the boundless, inexhaustible, incomprehensible benevolence and love of Jehovah; that he should stoop to the act of raising ungrateful, rebellious, groveling beings, such as the offspring of Adam, to be his friends, to take them into his society, and raise fallen men from the horrible pit and miry clay, to stand before his presence with exceeding joy.

This does now, and will through eternity, claim our most ardent acknowledgement of praise, and glory, and honor to God and the Lamb. "In every thing give thanks." J. C.