BLESSED it is to recognize in the temporal, creative mercies of each day, the evidences of a loving Father’s care. “He giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” To receive all as from His own hand, giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus, is to honor the Giver in the use of His gifts.
There is a golden mean between fleshly asceticism on the one hand which discounts many of God’s gifts and thus throws discredit on Him who provides them, and carnal self-indulgence on the other hand which uses the mercies of God with no regard to Him from whom they come, and in such a way as to turn even our blessings into curses. We should ever recognize the bounty of our Father in these things, and whether we eat or drink do all to His glory, our hearts going out to Him in adoring gratitude.
“Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.
Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I’ll pursue:
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.
Through all eternity, to Thee
A joyful song I’ll raise;
For oh, eternity’s too short
To utter all Thy praise!”
—Joseph Addison.