"...and overflowing with gratitude." A simple thought for Thanksgiving today, but does "overflowing with gratitude" characterize my life? How about yours? Is gratitude our default attitude in life...or is it cynicism...complaining...chronic discontentment...caustic entitlement?
I can tell you, when I start to feel entitled, my gratitude disappears and along with it, any semblance of joy. Or when I start focusing on whatever it is that I want but lack, well then, here comes grumbling, discontentment, and discouragement.
Yet all around me, the world dances with God's abounding goodness, His extravagant love, His staggering abundance, His astounding grace.
Just the other day, I gazed out the window and saw a sight worthy of the National Gallery of Art--
Right outside our front door! Look at those brilliant colors, those varied leaves dancing in the breeze...all absolutely free. Available night and day to be seen and appreciated and savored! Yet day after day, I'd zoom past in my car with nary a glance. But I should have been filled with awe and awash with gratitude that an Almighty Lord grew those trees, colored those leaves, gave me eyes to see them, ears to hear their rustling, and a heart to know and love their glorious Creator!
"It is always possible to be thankful for that is given rather than to complain about what is not given. One of the other becomes a habit of life...Accept, positively and actively, what is given to you. Let thanksgiving be the habit of your life." (Elisabeth Elliott)
"Overflowing with thankfulness" occurs when we "let thanksgiving be the habit" of our lives. And habit means we consciously choose to cultivate it day after day after day.
Thank You Lord for this day...for this breath...for my family near and far...for that mug of hot tea this morning...for the gigantic stick Bingley carried on our walk today... for a text from a dear friend...for being able to text another dear friend who is halfway across the world...for prayer...for autumn and pilgrims and Thanksgiving and pumpkins...for a warm bed at night...for chocolate cake...for my parents in heaven...for the cardinal at our bird feeder...for a new grandbaby...for Thanksgiving and Christmas hymns and songs...
Ann Voskamp says, "Joy is a function of gratitude, and gratitude is a function of perspective." We don't so much as need a change in our circumstances as we need a change in our perspective--and that means looking for, noticing, and being grateful for the blessings God showers all around us and over us. Maybe even just outside our front door!
Today, and everyday, let's choose gratitude. Because we have a great God who is a relentless Giver of all good gifts. And that Almighty Lord and Creator knows us each by name. Amazing. If that doesn't make you grateful, I don't know what will!
Father, give us eyes to see, hearts to savor, and mouths to thank You. Make us relentlessly grateful. Might we be people who overflow with gratitude. To God be the glory.
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