While I was in Germany for a school year, two friends from church, George and Ben Cline, came to visit me at the home in Heidelberg. Sure, they were already in Germany, but they took an entire day out of their sight-seeing to meet up with me.

It was amazing to see friendly faces – and they even brought peanut butter! I’m pretty sure I didn’t quite understand the effort they made to reach me. I was a college kid and as self-absorbed as the next student. Now I recognize it… and I feel real gratitude.

The beginning of gratitude is recognition. It is a crucial first step in the process of giving thanks. Recognition is that moment where you allow a truth to dawn on you to the point where it reaches your heart. You slow down your thinking into contemplation (a very rare state these days). You make the connections.

Without recognition, only the lips give thanks. When it comes to giving thanks to God, lips just won’t cut it:

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 15:8, ESV

Jesus spoke these words as he quoted a prophet who was speaking for God the Father. Neither the Father nor the Son is interested in thanksgiving without true recognition.

As an example, take the moment where Jesus heals ten men with leprosy. These men are on the side of the road, crying out to Jesus for healing:

When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:14-19, ESV

Jesus acknowledges the faith of the man whose recognition led him back to give thanks. At some point he had to stop, let the wonder of the healing miracle reach his heart, then return back to express gratitude.

We might have a national holiday to give thanks, but that does not mean that the gratitude gets much further than a hearty meal and a day of football. Let’s let this week be different for us. Let’s slow down and recognize the giver of all good things (James 1:17). Let your heart slow down and ponder the truth of God’s providence and care for His children.