Say Thank You Anyway

Hey, carpool crew. Whether you're zipping up your backpack or still wiping crumbs off your shirt, I'm Pastor Justin and I'm so glad you're here. Let's be real. When we are getting ready for school, it's easy to forget two simple words that change everything. Thank you, but guess what? God loves a thankful heart and saying thank you, as simple as it may be, matters more than you think. Let's check out First Thessalonians chapter five, verse 18. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. This verse was written by the Apostle Paul to a church in Thessalonica. He was encouraging believers who were going through hard times not to complain, but to give thanks. Paul wasn't saying, only give thanks when life is easy, or only give thanks when life is good or when you're getting your way or when everything is going the way you had planned. He was saying that a thankful heart is God's will, even when it's early, even when you're tired, even when the cereal is a little soggy. Because thankfulness shifts your focus from what's wrong to what's right. It helps you see how much God has given you and how much others do for you every day. If Jesus were walking out the door with you this morning, I think he'd say, say thank you. Not just because it's polite, but because it shows love. Gratitude, it grows your heart and it brings joy to others too. Jesus often gave thanks in big miracles and in simple meals. Gratitude was a rhythm in his everyday life, and he wants it to be a rhythm in your life too. So how can you live this out, especially with school starting really soon? First, say thank you to your parents for making your lunch, or for picking out your clothes, or for buying you new shoes, or for driving you to school. Just say thank you. Thank your teacher when the first class ends, even if it was kind of weird. Everyone's learning each other's names and figuring out where to sit, and you know, maybe the schedule was a little off. It doesn't matter. Tell your teacher thank you for a great first day. Maybe you can write a quick note or leave a sticky note for someone who helped you today just to thank them, and you could thank your coach, your bus driver, your siblings. Yes, even your siblings. And here's the challenge. Can you say thank you to someone who doesn't expect it today? Maybe in a situation that you would think, well, they're not expecting me to say anything, right? But when you say thank you, it brightens their day and shows a little bit more of who Jesus is, even without telling them you are a Christian, or you listen to a podcast or you love Jesus. It just lets them in a little bit on the secret, which is when you say thank you, you are doing exactly what God wants you to do. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Parents, if you love today's podcast, tell your kids' pastor about it at church. They may wanna share it with more families at your church, which would be great. Before you go answer this question together, what's one way you can practice saying thank you more this school year, and why you think it matters to God? I'll see you tomorrow on carpooling with Jesus.