Becky has always been a bit spoiled, well, ok, really spoiled. Surprisingly, it hasn't made her arrogant or snobbish. She has a sweet, flirtacious manner about her. She often is described as "giddy." Becky met a great guy and fell in love. Her father threw a lavish wedding for her, $50,000! It was a great party. There was a string quartet, dancing, lots of fine wine and toasting. The bride was beautiful. She danced with her father first and you could see the joy in her face as she looked up at him. She stopped the quartet halfway through teh song to tell everyone how much she loved her dad and thanked him for this fabulous day. She was nearly jumping out of her skin with pleasure and happiness. George had to have a kidney transplant last year. He was close to death several times. The medications weren't working and he started to reject the donor kidney. Agonizing is the only word to describe his life. The medical bills piled up and he lost his job. The stress of being unable to provide for his family put him in depression. Last week he received a notice that he is losing his house. Shelly, his wife, couldn't take any more and left him 2 days ago. George hated what he had to do, but he had no choice. He went to his father last night and asked for some help. His dad gladly gave him everything he had in his life savings, $50,000. George wept and wept at the enormity of what his father was willing to give for him. Practical Sally, that's what we call her. Don't buy the expensive shampoo, Suave works just as well. Why stay at the Hampton when Motel 6 is right beside it? Sally has had good and bad experiences through her life. She had a nice childhood, some would say the American dream. She went to college, met a nice guy, has a family now. Some things have happened along the way, but Practical Sally always gets through it. Today there was a surprise in the mailbox. Her father had sold his home and made a little profit. He wanted to share it with his children, so here is $50,000. Sally called her dad right away and thanked him properly. She was shocked by the gift, but certainly pleased. After she hung up the phone, she also sat down to write her dad a note. It was the right thing to do. Eric is known as a druggie. He was rebellious as a teen, did what he wanted, wouldn't listen to anyone, left home at 17. He hated what his father stood for and the hatred grew in him for years. He hasn't spoken to his father in a really long time, though he does think of him now and then. Eric has never held a job, everyone was always against him. He tried to get what he deserved by gambling, but somehow the big bucks were always just out of reach. He had borrowed a lot of money from the wrong people, and now he was afraid and hopeless. He is constantly running. His father heard through a friend that Eric was in big trouble. He sent $50,000 to Eric's bookie. Eric was stunned that his father would do such a thing. He didn't think his dad was that kind of guy. He quietly went to his father and asked forgiveness. He spent time in rehab for a while, but the biggest change has come from shadowing his father. Eric is changing; he is gentle, softer. He works hard and earnestly wants to please his dad. Each person was given the same gift by the same person. An exorbitant gift from a father to his child. Each child responded differently based on his personality, situation, and understanding. Each child showed gratitude; the father was thanked and appreciated. The same is true of all of us. We have all been given the same gift by our father. We all come to thank him, but because our personalities, situations, and understandings are all different our thankfulness is expressed differently. Some of us are giddy with celebration, some weep with gratitude, others are practical and proper in their thanksgiving, and still others are earnest and hardworking. Only the Father knows if the worship is from the heart. Go today and worship Him who is deserving of your praise, however that praise may manifest itself.