Giving thanks doesn’t have to sound melodious or look beautifully wrapped in order to be genuine, or appreciated.
God looks at the heart, and we should too.
One of my children had a teacher when in grade 2 who positively impacted me in this area.
I may have mentioned how she referred to each child as her favorite, and treated them as if they were as well.
But the reason she was able to do so was because she was thankful.
She showed it in how she worked with kids. She loved to be there, showing them she cared and how happy she was to spend the day with them.
Thankfulness speaks through our actions most times louder than our words.
The Psalms are filled with verses of thanks, which I used to think was despite all the woes and pleas for rescue & intervention.
I now know the thanks is there because the psalmists discovered the wondrous truth that God was with them through all they faced, and couldn’t help but give thanks for the revelation…
Even if the circumstances didn’t change for the better in the waiting.
When David was pleading with God to spare his first son with Bathesheba, He fervently fasted and worshipped.
When the child died and afterwards, he still continued to worship God.
For He knew the same God who had been with him facing the lions, Goliath, King Saul and the Philistines was still with him.
And David could still praise Him for who He is despite his loss.
Sometimes it is in the hard places where the deepest encounters with God and revelations from His Spirit can be found.
And I believe being thankful is key.
That teacher impacted me not because her life was perfect, but because she lived out an attitude of gratitude for all the blessings she had, instead of focusing on what she was lacking.
We can do the same.
We have the Maker of Heaven & Earth. We have God with us, alongside us and within us.
Knowing He is with us, forever, outweighs any lack we might be encountering in the temporary.
And because of His great love, grace and mercy which He extends to us, we can always have Him to be grateful for.
Thanksliving is living your life with a visible attitude of gratitude.
Nor because everything will always be going your way, but because the God over everything is guiding your way, from right beside you and will never stop doing so.
We can give Him thanks at all times, for He never fails to reveal His love for us, and He doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit!
KARLA LEES 