For several years now, I have collected my change and placed it in a plastic jar. When it gets full, I empty and count it, then take it to the bank.

This reminds me of counting all the blessings and benefits we receive from the hand of God.

So many times when we pray, we fail to even give God thanks for all he provides. It’s easy to get into the habit of only asking the Lord for things.

When we do thank the Lord, it can become so general such as, “Lord, we thank you for all of your blessings.”

This is what David is suggesting in Psalms 103:2-5 where he said, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”.

I think it means so much more when we get more specific in our thanksgiving.

For you parents, it would be like a child coming up to you and just saying every once in a while, “Thanks for all the stuff you do,” verses each time you do something for them or buy them something and they tell you how much they appreciate it. For some hearing the word “thanks” would be a step in the right direction.

When we get in the habit of regularly giving thanks, it helps us to realize how much our heavenly Father actually does for us.