Being thankful deals with recognizing that God has already satisfied ones needs with what is already there or with what is to come. Acknowledging that God has provided someone’s needs comes from one simple sign, say a piece of bread, or something out of a garbage can. God is able to multiply any substance to satisfy man’s need. And, so, just that very sign of prosperity no matter how small should bring out of us a moment of thanksgiving. Now, we can be those agents that help others to become grateful for what they have, just by modeling thanksgiving; not just sharing of the turkey, but actually giving thanks for the very little things that out of no where appear or those that are just there but are without recognition.
Mark 8:2-8
2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
A moment of gratefulness sprung out of Jesus was when he saw this people who were with him for three days and had not eaten anything, but knew that his heavenly father could supply their needs with anything. He had compassion on this people. compassion is a virtue that brings out thankfulness. The bible tells us that God is full of compassion and that is why he has not poured his wrath upon us (ps. 78:38, La3:32); lets face it we have not be all that good. When something small appears in the midst of trouble it is a sign of God’s provision as in the time of Elijah, when there was a drought and after he prayed a small hand appeared in the sky; God sent rain (1Kg18:44). Small things are appreciated by even rulers as Zerubbabel who was making sure that every detail was complete (Zac. 4:10).