Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"Let Them Know"
May 6, 2018
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
~ Ephesians 5:18-20 (ESV)
As far as I can tell, there are all kinds of ways to say thank you to someone.
For example, you can express your appreciation through a formal card, or you can shoot someone an email. You might send them flowers or some other token which show your gratitude. You might even visit with your benefactor face to face.
Of course, you could always play a baseball game in their backyard.
What, you've never heard of showing gratitude through a baseball game? I guess I hadn't either until I heard the story of 19-year-old Zach Seavers. He plays college ball for Lewis and Clark College. What follows is his story.
For years Zach had been close to his grandmother, Marilyn.
You see, Marilyn had been more than a grandmother to Zach and his sister. She had been a friend. She was a friend who took them shopping and to the movies. Goodness, they even played practical jokes on each other. Oh, one other thing Marilyn did ... she attended all of Zach's baseball games.
Hardly ever missed a game until she was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer.
Knowing that grandma was no longer able to come to his games, Zach asked his teammates if they would be willing to help him take the game to grandma. To their credit, they agreed. The next day he had his aunt place grandma in her wheelchair and bring her to the window overlooking the backyard.
When the drapes were open, grandma saw Zach and almost a dozen of his fellow players had laid out a baseball diamond in her backyard. Zach's sister who plays a pretty mean game of softball was also on the field.
Zach's aunt reports that grandma, who has since gone to her Lord, sported a big grin and shed a few very happy tears.
Now it occurs to me that all of us probably have someone or maybe a number of someones who are very special to us. Sadly, we don't often get around to thanking them until the doctor pronounces some terrible diagnosis. Now I don't know who is on your list. Maybe there is a lifelong friend, possibly a teacher, maybe even a spouse or parent to whom you owe a debt of gratitude.
If that is the case, I encourage you, don't let this week slip away without letting them know of your appreciation. Remember, there are a lot of ways to give thanks.
And as long as you are doing that, why not begin each day with a very special prayer of appreciation to the Lord. It is He who has redeemed you from certain death and damnation; it is He who has been with you every moment of your life, and it is He who is responsible for every good and perfect gift you enjoy.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for all You have done, I give thanks. For salvation and things important, I give thanks. For small things, even things I never knew about, I give thanks. Most of all, for my Savior, I am in Your debt. In Jesus' Name I give thanks. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by McKinley Corbley on April 16, 2018 for the GoodNewsNetwork. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/dying-grandma-was-too-sick-to-attend-so-college-baseball-team-took-the-game-to-her/#.Wtws9WiL2CU.email
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As far as I can tell, there are all kinds of ways to say thank you to someone.
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