Suppose that one year when they all four were children I decided to give them a very fine new bike. I know they would all have been very grateful. They would have been all thrilled and happy with their Mom and me. That is gratitude;
If I am a soloist and had just performed really well I can be very thankful for a gift God has given me. There would be no need for me to say things that would diminish my performance or to deflect the praise.
With my girls had not been full of thankfulness over their bikes I would have been very disappointed. On the other hand if they had gone to their friends ad said “Our gifts we got are better than your gifts because our folks love us more” they would have greatly dishonored our gifts to them.
I think Paul had something like this when he wrote “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it.
I can enjoy and not be self conscious about my gifts the gifts I have been given if I remember that my gifts were given by God’s grace and not because I am more favored than you.
George Caywood 