People Love People That Love People.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 
Billy Graham is probably the most well known disciple of Jesus Christ since the Apostle Paul. The preacher mentioned Billy Graham. Maury Scobee was Billy Graham's personal assistant for 40 years.  He saw first hand Billy Graham in all sort of situations. The preacher asked Maury was there something unique about Billy Graham. Maury told about how Billy was the most thankful person, if he was at a hotel, he thanked everybody for what they did. He would talk to anyone. Billy Graham was a friend of Presidents and many other world leaders from both sides, but he still had time to talk to a janitor or waiter. Billy Graham loved people. People love people that love people. That is who this great man was. Billy Graham  didn't live a wealthy lifestyle, he could have like many well known preachers of our day, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Jimmy Swaggart ( Jimmy is said to live in a 2 bedroom cabin at 6,000 square feet). Billy set the standard high for any who followed him.  Billy loved people and it showed.  But this morning I am thinking of being thankful.  Maury said Billy thanked everybody for anything they did. It didn't  matter what they did, from janitor to President, he was the same.  He loved people and was thankful. This is something that Maury said stood out after 40 years of serving as Billy Grahams personal assistant.  Billy Graham loved people.  Billy Graham had a thankful heart. When hearing about Maury and his words about probably the greatest disciple since the Apsotle Paul, I thought about the scripture above. I believe thankfulness is something that has to be taught. When our kids are small, we tell them a million times, say thank you. If you don't drill it into their heads they don't do it.  They receive a gift and if not taught, they do not say thank you. One thing I liked about the TV program Blue Bloods is the weekly family dinner, and someone would give thanks to God for the meal. I am not sure how well I learned that myself. I am good at home, me and Barbara give thanks for every meal. Actually once in a while I catch myself forgetting.  I go down to Hardee's to meet with some men. Some are Christians, some are not. I catch myself there more than anywhere, We don't all show up at the same time. I'll get there and I sit down with my breakfast and I catch myself forgetting to give thanks.  I am not embarrassed, and I don't try to make a big deal out of it. I just like to bow my head and say thanks God.  I think thankfulness and gratefulness need to be taught and loving people. Some are better at it than others and probably Billy Graham was one of the best, but not really knowing him that  well, I wonder if he taught himself to be thankful and grateful early on and it just became part of his life. Dennis Prager offers this thought: gratefulness is the mother of goodness and happiness. Gratefulness and ungratefulness are taught. Ingratefulness is the mother of cruelty and sadness.   We in America today are being taught to be ungrateful, everyone is a victim.  I believe we can make our corner of the world better by just being thankful and grateful. I am thankful to have been born an American, the U.S. of A specifically.  I could have been born in some third world country. I am thankful to have a reasonable amount of health, I have all my limbs and I think my mind is good. I eat well, probably too much, I am thankful. I am thankful for President Trump, I really am. I think of what the alternative almost was, and what we have learned in just the last two years. I am thankful. Look at what divides our country today, is it not unthankfulness and ungratefulness for what we already have. We are a blessed country. And still today people from all over the world are still trying to get in. I am thankful. Could we just be thankful and grateful for what we already have?  God bless, LVZ.