Giving Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks

How often do you decide to give thanks, be thankful, especially to someone who might not expect it? Giving thanks is no more than a polite expression of one’s gratitude, and certainly not less.

Some may believe a thank you must be warranted by some act, gesture, or occasion when another expresses generosity, grace, or mercy toward us, but that’s not always the case.

Being thankful isn’t dependent on the expressed generosity, grace, or mercy toward us. It depends on us and how motivated and intentional we are to express gratitude toward another just because we can. Planting seeds of gratitude can impact another unexpectedly if not surprisingly.

In the moment we choose to give a sincere expression of one’s gratitude, we are not considering ourselves in that moment. No, we are carefully considering the soul of another, thanking them and in fact, loving them. You might see this simple unsolicited. gesture as very powerful, and you’d be exactly right. It is powerful, and it’s free!  It takes nothing at all from a soul to express one’s gratitude for another. Nothing at all.

What prevents this expression of one’s gratitude? Pride, selfishness, and even fear, but most of all pride. We determine within our extremely limited minds when compared to the wisdom of God, that we are judge and jury. Friend, this is wrong- headed and will head us in the wrong direction.

C.S. Lewis said it best, “If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”

We must get over ourselves through Christ Jesus and His powerful example of repeatedly giving thanks.  Abe Lincoln understood this, too,
“These bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come… cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.”

So just say it, “Thank you.” Give thanks. Why, because Christ Jesus did and
instructs us to do the same. We are most certainly not God, but by giving thanks, we can certainly behave like God. So try giving your thankfulness away. The return might just surprise the recipient, as well as yourself. ��

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Scripture References

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 
Colossians 3:16-17

For additional details, questions or actionable strategies to give thanks and maximize your potential and lead a more balanced, happier and fulfilled life, please email coach@maximizeu.life

Thanks