“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45

When our girls were little, my wife did an excellent job of instilling in them a grateful heart. When grandparents would send them a gift, she was quick to break out the thank you cards for our kiddos to write a note. Birthday parties and graduations were no different. If someone took the time to gift you, you sent a thank you card. 

Acts of care and kindness have a high value. So, when we give them away, it’s an investment on our part. It’s a sacrificial act towards another person. When those acts go unnoticed or unappreciated, it cuts us deep and can even cause us to withhold future acts. 

Our expectations can really be a determining factor here. When we come to expect a “thank-you” or for people to reciprocate our level of thoughtfulness, we will often be disappointed. Remember, we are redefining a lost art form. When we give in order to get, mistrust puts us back on the hamster wheel of selfish, transactional  living.

People are broken vessels. Setting the bar too high in our expectations of people’s thoughtfulness leads to disappointment. Our care for others has to be based on a genuine love for them and not on their ability to return the favor. Remember, we’re not merely trying to do as much good as we can; we’re developing a new attitude within ourselves.

TRY IT: Send an encouraging note to someone you’ve been resenting because of their ungrateful attitude.