In the early days after George joined our family, I decided to experiment with him a little bit. No, not that kind of experiment. In fact, becoming a proud owner of an adorable guinea pig drastically redefined my casual use of the word ‘guinea-pig’ which, in my mind, always implied the disposable aspect of the species in the service of higher goals of medical science and advancement of human race. Once a rodent becomes your pet, it’s rather offensive to see it as an experimental animal, but I am getting off subject….
Back then, a thought crossed my mind that guinea pigs might
be trained to say ‘thank you’. Perhaps not
in the form and vocalization of the English or even Serbian language, but in a
language widely known among rodents as Guineapiggish.
So, every time I gave George food, I also patted his back and asked him,
What do you say,
George? What do you sa-aay? in a
sing-songy kind of voice. The kids started doing the same. Soon enough he begun
responding with a loud brrrrr-brrrrr sound,
which translated into English means thank
you. This delighted us to no end and gave us special bragging rights.
George became our Grateful Piggy.
It turns out training piggy to say ‘thank you’ is much
easier than training humans to do the same. Of course, we already know that
everything is much more complicated with humans, especially since I am not
talking about the manners type of ‘thank you’ here (not that there is anything
wrong with them). But it is quite
possible to have perfect manners and still whine and complain, grumble and
blame. God’s Word, however, is unambiguous about this – God’s children are to give thanks in everything!
I understand that this is a sore topic in the world ridden
with unbearable pain of loss, unspeakable evil, gross injustices and
unfathomable atrocities committed every day, often by those entrusted with
power and authority to use it for good rather than evil. How do I thank God for this abuse? For this
betrayal? For the broken heart? For shattered life?
God certainly doesn’t expect me to sugarcoat it. David didn’t sugarcoat it. Prophets didn’t sugarcoat it. In fact, in their writings we see God’s own raw
emotions in response to the evil acts of His own children. He hurts when we
hurt – ourselves or others; because of our own or other people’s sin. If
anybody knows about unjust suffering, it is Jesus. We must be careful not to
trivialize pain by thoughtless spiritual platitudes.
This still doesn’t give me the answer to giving thanks in everything. I would much rather anesthetize my pain with
a box of Pringles. But I also found that I can actually enter it. I can step
into it armed with a purpose to patiently endure it, entrusting my mind and
heart, soul and strength to the God who is bigger than my pain. Who promised that He will one day put a
complete end to it. Who promised that He
would use it for His good purposes. Sometimes, those are the only two hooks I
can hang my faith on and choose gratitude.
After you have
suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His
eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and
establish you. I Peter 5:10
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