Here in Canada, turkeys are a-roasting this weekend as we pause to give thanks for all that makes up life and living.
For me, Thanksgiving is always connected to our youngest, our son.
At 10:10am, on Thanksgiving Sunday, October 10, he breathed in the air of life and I inhaled gratitude … for life is tender, fragile, not guaranteed.
Our very own Ben 10 is one I have immense thanks for, so today, gratitude is great, celebration is due.
As I feel and know gratitude for him, I pray that he always live a life of gratitude.
For gratitude is our exhale, and it is in the breathing out of thanks that gratitude is inhaled.
When we sit around a table, as we bow our heads in thanks for our food, his grace is always one of thanks.
I was reminded of this a few weeks ago, when he offered thanks for the food, for his sisters, for his parents. This is not odd for him to do, for he knows where who is the Giver. Yet, on this particular day, I was not feeling particularly worthy of such appreciation.
Since that day I have thought numerous times about his offering of thanks … for one who had not been graceful to him just hours earlier. His gratitude, despite imperfection from the one he expressed thankfulness for, has been a new lesson for me.
It is easy to be thankful
for food … when it tastes appealing
for work … when we are enjoying it
for education … when we are succeeding
for people … when we are in good relationship with them
for the new day … when it is sunny
Yet, gratitude is not simply for the things that feel good at the time, for our thanks does not come after, but before the blessing. Thanks is the attitude of faith in the One who gives, not an acceptance for what has already been received.
Gratitude is the attitude that preexists the reality of what we are given … whatever it may be.
In being PRE-thankful … in ALL things, we are preparing for the good, bad and ugly that comes to us in life. We are being cognizant that gratitude is due, even though our mortal self may suffer. This is a great mystery, yet, for those who practise gratitude in all things … a peace that passes human understanding is the gifted result.
Ben knows this. He lives this life of gratitude in all things. He is not perfect, for his closest teachers (that would be his parents) have not modelled this consistently, his humanness fights against such illogical practise. Yet, as I hear him give thanks, for those who have let him down, I am encouraged that his life is heading in the right direction.
Happy birthday Ben. My encouragement to you today, are from the words of Paul,
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
itsawonderfilledlife 