The children’s ministry at our church has focused on gratitude this month and I’ve loved that there’s a dual focus: who we’re grateful for and who we’re grateful to.
We’re missing out when we forget who we’re grateful to because thankfulness loses its intent, reducing it to a mere feeling.
Gratitude isn’t meant to be a platitude. It’s not just a nice slogan for decor, mugs and shirts in stores. While being thankful is good for our mental health and helps our relationships, that’s not its purpose either.
As with all good gifts from God, gratitude is meant to draw us near to Him.
When we remember who we’re grateful to – the giver of literally ALL things – we get to remember:
- God’s goodness
- God’s faithfulness
- God knows our needs
- God can meet all our needs
- The same is true of God for all people, all the time
- We can trust God!
Gratitude, then, is a gift of grace that lifts our heads to look at the Savior who gave His life to reconcile us with the Giver of all.
Gratitude leads us to worship Him and grows our desire to keep on following Him.
Let’s not settle for less in our gratitude than being prompted to praise and to trust.
May we, like little children, shamelessly thank God for pizza and people, for rainbows and redemption. And may we, like little children, find this leads us to celebrate Him and to rest in Him more and more.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever!” – Psalm 136:1
Thank you God.
Amen!
I love this, Bethany: “Gratitude, then, is a gift of grace that lifts our heads to look at the Savior who gave His life to reconcile us with the Giver of all.” So wonderful to remember that being thankful actually leads us to trust God more!
Thank you, friend!