Life Lessons – Gratitude
Published by ljol236
“What do you say?”
I have had the privilege of giving gifts to young children and then hearing young parents (just like Jackie and I did for our children) prompt their children to say this key phrase in response to their question – “Thank you!”
Gratitude is more caught than taught as we grow up.
As we grow older, we don’t need the prompting question – “What do you say?,” but we do need to keep learning life lessons about gratitude.
One life lesson is that all communities and peoples of grace benefit greatly when they have an attitude of gratitude.
My presidential predecessor, Rev. Dr. Cornelius Plantinga, has written a great book entitled Gratitude: Why Giving Thanks Is the Key to our Well-Being. In stories and reflections, Plantinga makes the case that gratitude is the very key to understanding our relationships with one another, the world around us, and God.
On November 11 (Veterans Day / Remembrance Day), CTS held its annual Donor and Scholarship Appreciation Dinner. As we opened the evening, our CTS Board Chair, David Morren, gave thanks and recognized those who had served in the military.
The night progressed with our giving thanks to God for our supportive community. We gave thanks for those who use the ministry of the Barnabas Foundation as a channel for gratitude and generosity. You can watch a short video that highlighted this ministry here.
The highlight of the evening (as it always is) was the testimonies of three students who shared not only stories of their calling but also how God provided for them in the form of scholarships and support.
It was encouraging to hear the responses and reflections to these testimonies. One key word of response was “hope.” We are a people looking for hope. An attitude of gratitude helps us see what God is doing and how God is still working through people and institutions.
Another insightful phrase of response that struck me was from this note I received following the Appreciation Dinner – “It was a beautiful night.”
Giving thanks helps us experience and see beauty.
What I do know is that it is a beautiful sight to see a supportive community come together to give thanks to God and for how God uses all of us to create a community of thanks!
Thank you for your ongoing support, prayers and encouragement!
In His Service With You,
Jul Medenblik
President, Calvin Theological Seminary
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