Genesis 40:14
“But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:”
The request that Joseph made in the verse above seems to be a reasonable request. He was in prison for something he had never done and helped people he didn’t have to help. When the time came that one of those he helped could have returned the favor, we find that this man forgot the goodness that Joseph had given.
I’m afraid most of us are at times guilty of forgetting to show kindness to those who helped us or contributed to our lives. Just like the butler was probably caught up in the moment of being released from prison, we can get so caught up in the LORD’s blessings on our lives that we forget to show kindness to those who contributed to our blessings. I don’t believe it is intentional, but it does happen.
My question for you is, who is the Joseph in your life who asked you to remember them but for whatever reason you forgot them? It doesn’t take much time to stop and thank those who helped to make us who we are. There are several things I would like to mention to help you not to forget those who deserve your gratitude and recognition.
First, don’t let the only time you recognize people be when you are admonishing them. Sadly, many times we can get to the point that the only time we bring someone up is when we are correcting them. If you are guilty of this, you need to change your ways. People should be praised more than they are admonished. Many followers have become discouraged because they are recognized more for their shortcomings than they are for their successes. The Scriptures teach us to give honor to those who are deserving of it. You may not mean for this to happen, but you must be aware of how often you admonish people instead of praising them.
Second, don’t let the wave of success cause you to forget to take the time to thank those who helped you to get where you are. There are many people who have helped you to get where you are, don’t let them go through life not hearing you thank them for the investment they’ve made in your life. Your parents, pastor, Sunday school teacher, school teacher and many others have invested in you, and you could be a source of encouragement to them to continue investing in others if you would simply recognize them publicly.
Third, make it a regular part of your weekly schedule to remember those who’ve invested in you. You don’t have to remember everyone every week, but you could take time weekly just to write a note or make a phone call to thank those who had a part in your life. It could also be someone who is a co-laborer who deserves your gratitude. You will be less likely to forget people if you make it a regular part of your weekly schedule to show people your gratitude for their help and investment.
Fourth, don’t wait to show your gratitude. The best time to show gratitude after someone has helped is immediately after their help. The more you put it off, the more likely you are going to forget to thank people for what they have done.
My friend, don’t let your life be one that forgets those who deserve your recognition or gratitude. People will be more willing to help you in the future if you show gratitude to those who presently help you.