Gratitude Goes a Long Way

By: Steve Huston

One has to wonder what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was thinking last Friday when he showed such disrespect and disdain for President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the American people who have been helping to fund the Russian/Ukrainian war with their tax dollars. As President Trump warned Zelenskyy, “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have…” There are many thoughts from the Proverbs that we could apply to this situation and we might surmise various reasons for the Ukrainian president’s foolish choices, but only God knows the heart.

Regardless the Left’s siding with Zelenskyy and attacking President Trump (not that they ever need a reason), there were many who rightly laid the blame at the Ukrainian leader’s feet. Here are two examples:

Even pro-Ukrainian analyst Marc Thiessen admitted, “This is entirely Zelensky’s fault. Trump greeted him graciously, was ready to turn the page. Just said he wanted to help Ukraine get its territory back. And Z comes in and gets into a fight in public? I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.” (Agenda Weekly)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC-R) strongly suggested that Zelenskyy resign, along with this statement: “What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful, and I don’t know if we could ever do business with Zelensky again. I think most Americans saw a guy that they would not want to go in business with, the way he handled the meeting.”

President Trump correctly identified Zelenskyy’s problem: “It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this. It’s going to be a tough deal to make because the attitudes have to change.” The attitude problem is one of ingratitude; there are several other accompanying problems, but ingratitude is at its base.

The Ukrainian president had some firm words in response to Sen. Graham’s remarks, but has since changed his stance (again, only God knows his mind), sending a letter to President Trump. Zelenskyy changed his tune “just hours after Trump directed a pause of U.S. assistance to Ukraine.” The Epoch Times reported this, quoting Zelenskyy: “Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”

While we hope and pray that the Ukrainian/Russian war is quickly brought to an end, halting the massive amounts of Russian and Ukrainian souls that are needlessly being sent into eternity, the purpose of this article is to point out the difference between persons of gratitude and those of ingratitude – President Zelenskyy being our example of ingratitude.

An attitude of gratitude is fitting for every day of the year; it’s not just for the eleventh month of our calendar. With so much entitlement and expectation which seems prevalent in our society today, whenever someone shows genuine gratitude, it’s truly a breath of fresh air.

While rules without a thriving, respectful relationship generally brings rebellion, there is no doubt that a relationship of giving without rules or expectation generally breeds contempt, an attitude that brings no real gratitude but fosters a sense of entitlement and disrespect. This can be seen within many families today and it’s the response of some who have generationally taken advantage of government handouts.

For our international example of one showing gratitude to President Trump and the United States, we turn to Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. This leader delivered a special thank you to President Trump for his unwavering support in Israel’s fight against Hamas and “Iran’s terror axis.” Feel free to watch this video of gratitude, while I point out a few items of interest.

In this two minute and three second address:

*  P.M. Netanyahu thanks President Trump three times.

*  He shows great respect for our president – “Donald Trump is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House…[He] shows that friendship each and every day.”

* He shows gratitude for the “visionary plan” that President Trump has for Gaza; for sending Israel the “munitions that were being held up,” and for “fully backing Israel and putting the pressure [on Hamas] to release the hostages.”

*  He also states that “Israel knows that America and President Trump have our back.”

*  In Netanyahu’s final thank you, he shows a gratitude of trust: “Thank you for all you are doing to return our hostages, bolster our security and provide a future of prosperity and peace for all the peoples of the Middle East.”

While it takes much more than gratitude to develop any healthy relationship, gratitude goes a long way!

What about us? We owe a debt of gratitude to One much higher than Prime Minister Netanyahu or President Trump. Yes, I’m speaking of our Creator God from Whom ALL blessings flow. The psalmist reminds us that “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psalm 68:19)

The psalmist reminds us that our greatest benefit which comes from God is salvation; let us never take that for granted. May we always give praise and thanksgiving to the Father who has called us; to Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, who died for us, atoning for our sin; and the Holy Spirit who empowers us to obedience and service to our amazing God.

“Selah” is a Hebrew word most often used in the Psalms to signify a pause for reflection and contemplation. In other words, here, we are called to reflect often on the blessings which come from God, and don’t forget salvation in the loaded number of “benefits.”

Regardless of what’s going on nationally, internationally, or personally, be a grateful person:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

 

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