{THANKFULNESS}

I came to Kampala with the intentions of serving others. I came to Kampala to help teach the character of God to the people of this city. What I didn't know is that the people in this city would be teaching me the many ways my life was lacking characteristics of God. This has compelled me to post several blog entries that will hopefully help you reflect on whether your life possesses these characteristics that I have been missing. Previously mentioned was servanthood. 

THANKFULNESS: 

Growing up, I learned how to be thankful in Sunday School class. I remember that many of my childhood friends even had songs that they sung before dinner and before bed that helped them remember what it was for which they were to be thankful. I distinctly remember teachers asking, "what are you thankful for?" The stereotypical answers always followed: "I am thankful for my family." "I am thankful for a roof over my head." "I am thankful for food to eat." 

While, yes, I should have been thankful for these things, and still should be, the question remains: would I possess the characteristic of thankfulness if these stereotypical things were not things I was able to give thanks for? Would I possess the characteristic of thankfulness if I did not have a family, a roof over my head, or food to eat? 

Here in Kampala, Uganda I have met many who do possess this characteristic, and most of them are under the age of ten. 

My revelation that I had much to learn started in street programs on one Tuesday morning. During that time, I have the joy of worshiping with a bunch of boys and leading them in a Bible study. All of these boys slept on the street the previous night. All of these boys call the streets their homes. This particular Tuesday our director asked the boys if they had anything to praise God for. Many of them quickly responded (with no incentive for doing so). 

The first little boy said, "I praise God for life." Wow. I am not sure if I have ever thanked God for that. These boys’ lives are severely threatened on a daily basis. Nights are hard and dangerous, and coming through a night alive is something to praise God for. 

The next little boy said, "I praise God for a meal." Wow. A meal. Not food to eat, because food is never promised. These boys might get one meal a day or they might not. They are most definitely not promised three meals a day. They aren't even promised one meal a day. Am I really thankful for the food I am provided, or do I think it is owed to me? Do I truly understand what a blessing it is that I have the means to eat whenever I am hungry? 

The following Saturday I spent the day in the village where our boys’

homes are. Three boys and I went on a long walk, which led to us climbing a mountain/hill (in a maxi shirt and flip-flops I might add). The two hour long hike was tiring and all, but I wasn't really worried about my safety or wellbeing. Likewise, I wasn't thinking about how awesome it was that I was on top of a beautiful mountain in Uganda with three awesome boys who God rescued from the streets. 

The following day in church, the pastor asked if anyone had anything to praise God for. Similar to my Tuesday experience, many boys (and a few adults) quickly responded. One of the boys was Henry (one of the three that joined me on the hike). He gave praise to God that I went on a walk with them and he praised God for letting us return safely. At that moment, I felt as if a ton of bricks fell on me. Why had I not thought to thank God for time with those boys? Why had I not thought to thank God for helping me return safely? 

This is thankfulness. It isn't praising God when your life situation is how you want it to be. It isn't praising God when you have all the "things" that you want. It isn't praising God when you don't have anything to grumble about. It isn't praising God when you get around to it. It isn't praising God for a list of things on a checklist.  It is praising God everyday, for everything, and in every season. 

I am thankful for the example of thankfulness, not just in these boys, but in Jesus Himself. He was fully God, who made himself human and came down to earth to selflessly serve His people and humbly thanked his Father. He gave thanks for basic, simple, and often inadequate resources, not out of fear and insecurity but out of knowing who He is, having confidence in relationship with the Father. 

If Jesus himself took time to praise God, then we should as well. If small street children under the age of ten take time to praise God, what excuse do we have? 

So, think about it again. Think about it hard. Do you posses the characteristic of thankfulness? 

xoxo, 

Jordan 

Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. Matthew 15:36

“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.” Matthew 11:25

“Jesus responded, ‘Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.’” John 11:40-42