Thanking Friends Thanks God

How often do you thank your friends for the role they play in your life?

I confess that I don’t show enough gratitude for the women who God places around me. Even though I love them, my hard charging, get to the point kind of personality sometimes forgets to express enough appreciation for godly girlfriends.

Maybe this is an area where you need to improve. If so, both of us can take a lesson from another strong personality, the apostle Paul. Before he got to the subject matter of almost every letter he wrote, he began with his thankfulness for the people he was addressing.

Paul thanked the Romans for their faith.

He was thankful for the Corinthians because of the grace given them in Christ Jesus.

He thanked the Ephesians and Colossians for their love for all God’s people.

Every time Paul thought of the Philippians, he thanked God for them.

He thanked the Thessalonians for their endurance.

Take a moment to think about your friends. Why, specifically, are you thankful for them?

If you are my friend, today I want you to know I am grateful for you. There is a reason we are in each other’s lives, and I don’t take our connection for granted. You are a present from God, and I absolutely adore you!

But for some of you who I see on a more routine basis, I wanted to specifically thank you for the gift you give me in our friendship (although you are all gifted in many areas), and ask for your forgiveness for not telling you how much I cherish and love you more often.

Deb Ford- My oldest friend-thank you generous, sweet sister for loving me no matter what, and for riding the God wave with me.

Lori Lester- Thank you for your discernment, loyalty, and wisdom, and for being a friend I can relax with. You are also the best cook this side of the Mississippi!

Donna Stevens- Thank you for standing by me through thick and thin, your discernment, and for being a faithful prayer partner. I miss you and God willing, I will visit you in Kentucky in 2016.

Cathy Weiskopf- Thank you for your patience with me, for always giving me the benefit of the doubt, and for being a wonderful writing partner.

Donna Skell- Thanks for your friendship, teaching me how to be a better leader, and for believing that I have value.

Rebecca Carrell, Alane Wynkoop, Marilyn Mansfield, Mary Ann Springer Moore and Cathy Wright- You are the encouragers in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without you. When I’m down, you pick me up. My love language is “Words of Affirmation” so you know how important you are! The four of you are talented, great women of the faith.

Kathy R. Green- I am grateful for your peaceful, gentle spirit. You are someone I want to emulate more.

Amy Kipnes- Thanks for your longtime friendship, counsel, and for keeping the fun alive in my life. I miss our San Antonio shopping excursions!

Cathy Schmidt- Thank you for loving this rather awkward, pudgy child during difficult times. You are one of the reasons I survived adolescence!

All the Beautiful Ladies in my Sunday School Class- You know who you are. I am thankful for your warm hearts, and smiling faces every Sunday morning, as well as your insight into spiritual things. I love you all.

Aurora Ortega Geis and Alma Jimenez Hall- Two women I can talk to about the “things unseen.” So grateful for the wisdom you both possess.

Lara U. and Laura Guerrero Redman- Thank you for allowing me to mentor the two of you because it gives me great joy to see how God is working in your lives! Love you both so much, and think of you as my spiritual daughters.

Elizabeth Hinkel- Thankful for your sound counsel and advice.

Mary Joseph and Ellen Woertink- Thankful for the way you demonstrate Romans 5:3-5.

New Friends Debbie Chiecchi Jackson and Rosemary Legrand- Thankful for both of you. You share a joyful spirit and faith in the Lord beyond measure. You have both embraced me as a new friend, and I want you to know how much I appreciate you both.

New Friend Susie Jennings- Thank you for reminding me that through unconditional obedience “All things are possible with God.”

New Friend Wendy Torres- I am thankful for the way you live out Philippians 4:13. You are a godly inspiration to other single moms.

New Friends Dee Ann Pence Rainwater, Sue Detweiler and Colleen Nunn- You three share my heart for ministering to women. I can’t wait to get to know you better.

And now, in the manner of Paul, the thanksgiving is followed by the central point. When friends appreciate each other, and are generous to each other, whether it’s with love, advice, or material things, it’s an act of thanksgiving to God.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9:12-13: “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” This passage was about the importance of taking care of new believers’ material needs, but I think it can apply to taking care of other needs as well. The need could be spiritual or emotional.

Who are you thankful for? Who needs to hear that today? When you give to your friends unconditionally, you are thanking God for the gift of friendship at the same time. What’s stopping you from thanking him in this way today?