Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. PSALM 50:14-15 (NLT)

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It is so much more delightful to give to someone who knows how to say, “Thank you.” Sincere gratitude has a way of unlocking hearts. Gratitude is evidence of connection. It is the place where deep need and abundant supply come together in happy union. 

Thirty-eight years ago today, I had my first date with the woman who would become my wife. I still have a hard time believing she was interested in me at all. A friend of ours gave me a list of three names of our fellow students who were somewhat interested in me. When I saw her name, the others did not matter. 

I had admired that young woman for months. She was everything I wanted and needed. Beautiful, intelligent, hardworking, with a growing hunger to know and experience God. In the six months of our acquaintance to that point, I had yet to speak to her once. The first time I did was when I asked her out for the first time. Before we could go on that particular date, another opportunity arose. On April 24, 1982, we went to a Texas Rangers baseball game with another couple. That other couple included the friend who gave me the list of names.

Three years later, we got married. In two-and-a-half weeks, we will have been married for thirty-five years. I am eternally grateful to God for my bride. She is strong where I am weak. She is as hardworking today as she was then. In fact, she left just after six o’clock to go to the office with no definite quitting time in sight. 

She is somehow more beautiful every day. She is so stinking smart. Hardworking? This week she has been up late every night, up early every morning, and she has filled every hour with disciplined focus on accomplishing of the biggest task of the year in spite of overwhelming uncertainties. 

I do love that woman! I thank God for her every day. 

It is no real sacrifice to give God thanks for my bride. I deliberately express my gratitude for her. I also keep my promises to her. We made promises to one another that day in 1985. We have kept them in seasons of better and worse, richer and poorer, and sickness and health. We love and cherish one another more and more as the years go on. We will do so ’til death do us part. 

When we have experienced trouble, and we have known depths I pray you never descend into, we have turned together to God who has rescued us time and again. When I consider how good he has been to me, to us, I cannot help but tell of his extreme goodness, everlasting kindness, tender mercy, and amazing grace. 

Thirty-eight years of high points and hard times have helped me see our Father in heaven more clearly. However good you think God may be, he is a million times better than that. I belong to him. How could I not offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. How could I not give him full and focused attention?

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I will live with gratitude and commitment.

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Our Father, how you have blessed me! It is my delight to sing your praise. With all my heart I give you thanks. You really are better to me than I would be to myself. I want everyone to know how good you are. I want every person to know you and experience you. Amen.