“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.” – Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire

A homily I listened to this weekend referenced the above quote from Chariots of Fire and I’ve been reflecting on it ever since.

I understand that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, but viewing God this way felt so relatable. Is there a better feeling than giving someone the perfect gift? There’s just something about being able to offer something to someone that they can really use or experience joy. I think that’s one of the reasons I find it impossible to wait to give gifts. I can’t wait to bring happiness to the recipient. Their joy gives me joy.

Today I’ve been asking myself all day: is this how God reacts when he knows we love and use his gifts?

“I feel his pleasure…”

Oh my gosh, of course he does. And the thought of God smiling at our delight just boggled my mind in the best way.

But this realization led to another thought: how does he feel when he doesn’t receive a thank you? Does it feel as lousy for him as it does for us? Of course the purpose of gifting to others has nothing to do with getting something in return. But we all want an acknowledgment or confirmation that we got it right.

I took a long walk in the park with Finnegan this morning that was filled with beautiful flowers, scenes, and even interactions with other people. I felt peaceful and happy, the sun warming my skin and the breeze cooling my cheeks. My legs carried me wherever I wanted to go and my little furry sidekick kept me smiling.

How many times have I experienced the joy of strolling through the park, only to pile Finnegan back into the car when we’re done and just go home. No thoughts of the gift that was the entire experience or an acknowledgment or thanks to the giver of the gift.

That was not the case today.

I thanked God for knowing what brings me joy, sharing it with me in abundance, and taking pleasure in my wonderful experience. And I plan on saying a lot more thank yous from now on.