Ingratitude.
The one sin that destroys the spirit of charity, of giving. The one that makes all too many of us become bitter, feel used, close our hearts and pocketbooks, and makes us question if helping or giving was even worth it in the first place.
Of course, that shouldn’t stop us from being charitable. Because there will always be people grateful for any help they can get, and that gratitude makes it all seem worthwhile. And letting others dictate our actions because of their buttheadedness might be considered a sin in and of itself.
But it’s much more difficult when you have to deal with it within your own family.
Appreciation is not hard to show at all. It doesn’t require that you prostrate yourselves before those that give to you and wail about how unworthy you are. It doesn’t require your indefinite servitude to those that serve you. It doesn’t require gratuitous butt-kissing or brown-nosing. It doesn’t even require you reciprocate, especially if you’re unable to.
All it requires is either a simple thank you, or a small, simple act of kindness in return.
That is all.
And keep your bitching and grumbling to yourself.
Dave, I know of what you speak, my brother…
Man, I don’t EVEN want to get started. But you’re right. What we DO, and what we GIVE should be done with no expectation of anything in return. We are to do it as unto The Lord. But, a simple “thank you,” or a “you don’t know how much I appreciate this” would go a long way.
Then again…in a small way it allows us to fellowship with Christ in His sufferings.
Still, it makes you want to pop the ungrateful bastards in the nose…
By: Andy on December 18, 2011
at 10:33 am
I don’t understand people who aren’t grateful for everything, including their next breath. So, agreed!
By: Pam Bobik on December 18, 2011
at 3:50 pm
I have never understood why some people are like that. It is so easy to be grateful, and so uplifting, too.
By: LC Aggie Sith on December 19, 2011
at 9:43 am