“The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” Henry Ward Beecher

It was a man named Jack Carter who helped teach me what it means to be thankful.

When Jack was a little boy, he used to hide from his daddy. His daddy drank.

When Jack was a young man, he married the love of his life, Nancy. They had several beautiful children, including a handsome son named David and a beautiful little girl named Criss. While Criss was still a small child, she developed polio.

After the children were grown and Jack looked forward to quality years with his beloved wife, Nancy developed a very painful and very deadly cancer. After a long period of suffering, Nancy finally succumbed to that terrible disease.

Jack was an artist with extraordinary talent, and he began a business selling his paintings after Nancy died… and then his business failed.

A few years later, Jack went on a highly anticipated fishing trip to Yellowstone, with his son Dave and his two grandsons. A sudden storm came up, swamping the boat… Jack lost his only son and his two grandsons to the icy waters that day.

About twenty-five years ago, I had the privilege of hearing Jack talk about how he started his day with prayer. He said that on some mornings all he could think to pray was this:

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Father, thank you. Thank you for all you have done for me… thank you.”

How could Jack say that? How, after a lifetime that was filled with heartaches and sorrows, could he be so thankful? Was he crazy? Was he insincere? No! Jack was a Christian – that rare type of Christian, who actually lived his faith.

You see, Jack’s daddy became a Christian, and it changed their lives. Jack’s daughter Criss has lived with, but overcome, the ravages of polio. Jack’s wife and son were Christians, and his young grandsons were what Jesus described as “such is the kingdom of Heaven”.

And Jack longed for the great reunion that our Father has promised to His faithful. And Jack was faithful, right up to the time that God took him to come Home…after a multi-year struggle with cancer.

Some days I am not thankful because I have a bigger heating bill than I expected… or because I have a headache… or because my government doesn’t suit me.

But I’m working on being more thankful, and I try to begin each day with my Father in prayer, thanking Him for the innumerable blessings that He has showered on the life of a most unworthy servant.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15, NIV