An old, tired-looking dog wandered into a woman’s garden. She could tell from looking at him that he had a good home. He followed her inside, down the hall, and promptly fell asleep. Two hours later, he went to the door and she let him out. The next day he came back, resumed his position, and napped for a couple of hours. This went on for a week. Curious, the woman pinned this note to his collar: ‘Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.’ The next day, the dog showed up with a note that read: ‘He lives at home with ten children – apparently he needs some quiet time. Can I come with him tomorrow?’ Being a good parent is hard work. Loving and caring for someone can be painful at times. And that’s one of the reasons why we should show our parents and those who care for us that we appreciate what they do. Of course, they get it wrong sometimes. But God’s grace forgives us when we make mistakes, so let’s extend that grace to our loved ones too. In his letter to the Christians in Philippi, Paul wrote, ‘Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.’ What an amazing expressing of gratitude and appreciation! That doesn’t mean the Philippian believers were perfect; in Chapter 3, Paul warns them about getting caught up in pointless arguments about what’s needed in order to be saved; and in Chapter 4, he encourages two of them to resolve their conflict. But even with these shortcomings, Paul still had only thanksgiving on his mind when he thought of the Philippian church. So today, whether it’s a parent, a family member, or someone else who cares for you, give thanks for them. And why not try to do something practical as well, to show them how much you appreciate them.
