The Silent Thank You

This quote (from the intro to Brother Lawrence's Practicing God's Presence) has really challenged my spirit today. Perhaps we can comment more on it later, but it's a longer quote, so here it is:

The Silent 'Thank You, Father'

"Please give Him thanks with me for His great goodness which I can never sufficiently express, and for the many favors He has done to so miserable a sinner as I am. May all things praise Him. Amen."
... Brother Lawrence

1. The most powerful expression of practicing God's presence is The Silent 'Thank You, Father'. These three words are the very essence of the holy habit. This phrase is the secret to living on earth and in heaven in continual conversation with God. It can start us and keep us moving forward on the path of practicing God's presence -no matter what.

The Silent 'Thank You, Father', is voiced from the heart. We repeat it inwardly at all times and in all circumstances -no matter what. In this way, The Silent 'Thank You, Father' brings us into instant awareness and communion with God.

We learn from Brother Lawrence that the things necessary for the practice of the presence of God are love, humility, simplicity, and faith. Contained within the three words, 'Thank You, Father', is a complete expression of these four necessary things: love, humility, simplicity, and faith. When silently spoken at all times and in all circumstances -no matter what, 'Thank You, Father' expresses our accord with His good pleasure, His holy will.

2. The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of our love because gratitude is our most natural way of appreciating love bestowed. When we love and love deeply, we cannot help but say 'Thank You' over and over again. When we love and love deeply, we cannot say it enough.

Sometimes we feel the bittersweet ache that comes from knowing that even these words, 'Thank You, Father', are inadequate in expressing our gratitude for His presence.

The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of humility because, when silently spoken in all circumstances -no matter what, we tell Our Father that His will be done. Despite outward appearances to our weak and limited vision, we acknowledge that He knows best and it is good!

The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of simplicity because these three words, and these three words alone, are enough. The phrase is complete and says all we can utter in word or thought.

We must resist every impulse to add even one more word. Why? That one more word will most often be the word for or because. As soon as we add one more word, 'Thank You, Father for' or 'Thank You, Father because', we immediately diminish the offering by applying our faulty and imperfect judgment. We thank Him, simply, for everything -no matter what.

It is helpful to think of this expression as a 'thank you gift' we can give to God. How easy and natural it is to say 'Thank you' when we are pleased. The 'thank you gift' is given almost instinctively. How difficult and unnatural to say 'Thank you' when we are displeased, offended, or hurt. Yet one 'thank you gift' given at such a time is worth more to Our Father than many 'thank you gifts' given when we are pleased.

The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of faith because trust in Our Lord is the very foundation of living in God's presence. One of the words most often used by Brother Lawrence is the word trust. We can only believe what, in our hearts, we know to be true.