"...then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."   Deuteronomy 6:11-12

Believing that the blessings we have are gifts from God causes a paradox. On the one hand, we are called to take great satisfaction in the bounty and the gratuitous gifts that God gives us in land, family, laughter, food and relationships. Believing that these things have been given as gifts should cause us to  partake in these blessings with a profound enjoyment. How would I eat differently if I reminded myself before every bite that God imagined and formed my taste buds and made the earth fertile so that the things I am eating could grow? I dare say that I would practically embarass myself with happiness. So it is with many of our blessings.

But we are called to remember this in order that we might be humble. Humility is the recognition that everything we have comes from God (i.e. not me). In this important passage in Deuteronomy, God warns the people not to "forget" him when they inherit the promised land. He knows that human tendency will lead them to take enjoyment in the good life and forget how they are so blessed in the first place. Even worse, they will give themselves credit for all they have. Our call to remember God is a serious one. It is a challenge to remember the very order of the universe - that God is the well-spring of life and we are but recipients.

This is the paradox. We are called to embrace our material blessings as wonderful gifts. But we are called to remember that they are just that - gifts. Given to us by a loving God. This is such an important point because it means that for all the enjoyment we should take in our blessings, they are not ours to use however we please. They are God's and if we are to remember that we must keep a loose grip on them. Hoarding, greed and gluttony are not ways to thank God for his gift. Using the gifts for the work of God through charity, hospitality and the flourishing of justice and life for all people - these are the ways to write a thank you letter to God.

Thankfulness is more than a feeling. It is surrender. It is the act of being so grateful for our material blessings that we could not possibly keep them to ourselves. It means being so appreciative of what we have been given that we let it go.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  Paul,  Philippians 4:11-13