Daily Devotional for June 8, 2022
Time Well Spent
“Wow!” Roman exclaimed as he unwrapped a video game he got for his birthday. “I’ve been wanting this!” He’d also gotten many other things, including a baseball cap, money from his grandparents, a sweatshirt, and a jacket. “This was my best birthday ever!”
“Here’s one more package for you,” said Mom as she handed Roman a small box.
“Another one?” Roman was surprised. Quickly he ripped the paper off. “A box of stationery? For me?” He frowned. “This looks like something for a girl!”
“It’s a box of thank-you notes,” said Mom. “Before you do anything else, you need to sit down and write thank-you notes to Grandma and Grandpa Jackson for the money they sent and to Grandma Peters for the sweatshirt.”
“Not right now, Mom,” Roman said. “I want to play my new video game. I’ll write the notes later. I promise.”
“I know you intend to, but I also know how easy it is to keep putting it off,” said Mom. “Everyone who gave you a gift spent time and money to show you they love you—time and money they could have used some other way. Now you need to take some time to sit down and write a short note to thank them.”
Roman grumbled, but got busy and started writing. Twenty minutes later the notes were finished, and Roman spent the rest of the day enjoying his gifts.
At dinnertime, the family gathered for prayer. “Roman got some very nice gifts today,” said Dad, “and every day the Lord gives gifts to all of us. Too often, we’re so busy enjoying them that we forget to tell Him thank you.”
“I was in a hurry to enjoy my gifts too,” Roman said. “I wanted to wait to write thank-you notes, but Mom wouldn’t let me.”
Mom chuckled. “Writing those notes didn’t take long, did it? And it was time well spent. Now you don’t have to remember to do it later.”
“You know what I’m going to start doing?” Roman said. “I’m going to start saying thank-you prayers to Jesus before I ask Him for anything. I don’t want to forget to thank Him for all He’s done for me. I’m going to start right now!”
-Barbara J. Westberg
How about you?
Do you say thank you to people who have been good to you? How about Jesus? Do you thank Him for all He’s done for you? He died for your sins, made you God’s child, and provides for you each day. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to say thank you. Don’t be like the nine who showed a lack of gratitude. Take time today and every day to offer thanks to Jesus.
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