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Thanksgiving has come and gone. Most of us stuffed ourselves to the max, took more naps in four days than we do in a year, and at some point sat around a table and told family or friends what we were thankful for. Of course, by now we’ve turned the corner – it’s Christmas time, baby! Although I agree Advent is here, maybe we shouldn’t vacate our own thanksgiving just yet. Maybe we should take a step back and make gratitude a part of our everyday lives.
Why is it we need a holiday to remind us to be thankful? Every one of us should be so full of gratitude that it bubbles over and out of us every single day. Gratitude shouldn’t be tied to our finances, our job, significant other, or if our fantasy football team won this past week. Gratitude should first come from what Christ has done for each and every one of us. He showed us grace when we didn’t deserve it; gratitude starts here.
Of course from here, God wants us to be grateful to Him for everything. Even the air we are breathing is because God allows it to be. Pretty sure if you’re reading this, you’re breathing. But God doesn’t want us to just thank Him. He desires that we live with gratitude in our hearts so that we not only give Him thanks, but we pour that gratitude out to others.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 we are told, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Thankful in all circumstances doesn’t just mean to God; it also means to others. That lady who bagged your groceries, the man who held the door, the waitress who dealt with 14 tables on a busy night and didn’t get your refill as quickly as you thought she should, your neighbor just for being a good neighbor, your kids for being better than you were, or your spouse for doing the dishes or folding the laundry…honestly, the list is endless.
If we are to give thanks in all circumstances, then the list of people we should thank, well, it’s infinite. Even those who don’t follow Christ know you are better off with a thankful heart. In an article entitled The Science of Gratitude, mindful.org writer Misty Pratt writes, “Research shows gratitude isn’t just a pleasant feeling—being grateful can also support greater health, happiness, and wisdom in ourselves and our communities.”
This is a secular article telling us science agrees with God that being thankful is the best thing for you all the way around. It isn’t easy, because by nature human beings are selfish. That’s why a secular article is talking about this as well. Any way you slice it, we need more gratitude in our world today.
We were created to be relational, both with God and with others. A big part of every healthy and satisfying relationship has to be gratitude. If you don’t think this is true, find a wife or husband who feels like they are being taken for granted and see how healthy that relationship is. Being thankful is a must for both parties. Obviously, the person being thanked is blessed, but the one doing the thanking is better off as well. Remember the science: more health, happiness and wisdom.
What all of this boils down to is that we shouldn’t be waiting for a day of thanks to figure out what we are thankful for. We should be offering up thanks to God and to others 365 days a year. As Brandon Lake says in his popular song Gratitude, “I have nothing else fit for a king.” So give God the only thing you can: praise and thanks, and show others His face by the thanksgiving you display to them and for them. Our attitude of gratitude should constantly flow from us, both upwardly and outwardly.
So as we turn the corner and head into one of the craziest times of the year, remember to thank God for all that He has done for you, and don’t forget to bless others by thanking them even for the smallest deeds. Yes, even the bored teenager checking you out at your local store. That thank you could make his day. Until next time, thank someone you know and someone you don’t know, and I will do the same.
Thank you for sharing this bery good tribute and reminder!
MarilynC
Thanks for reading!
Hi Noah. Wonderful hearing from you. Please subscribe me to your auto email Blog
Love you all!
Angela
I loved this article and shared my comments on fb.