Hi! I am Thankful!

“It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy.” unknown

Imagine with me that you’ve been invited to a party!!  You’re looking forward to the event and have paid careful attention to your outfit, hair and makeup.  You even purchased a new pair of earrings!! Once you arrive and approach the room where the event will be held, you find many people are already gathered.  As you peer past the doorway, you realize you are not associated with anyone at the party, but see that everyone is wearing a name tag. You are hopeful to meet someone new! You enter the room, glancing at the name tags, but a look of surprise spreads across your face.  Instead of the guest’s given name, the tag describes the emotion that they are feeling!  As you peruse the room, you see the guests labeled with things like; “Hi, I am NERVOUS,” “Hi, I am EXCITED,”  “Hi, I am ANGRY,” or “Hi, I am MEH.” At this point you are thinking to yourself, ‘hmmm,… why did I decide to come?’ (But at least you have a new pair of earrings….)

If this scenario were true, whom at the party would you gravitate toward based upon their noted emotion?  Better yet, what would your own name tag read? As a Christian invited to that party wearing a label of your own emotion, how could you be the best witness possible?  Bearing the word of “Agitated” or that of “Thankful?”  What would make you more approachable?

The issues of 2020 have certainly been a part of our daily discussions with friends, family and Facebook.  Without rehashing or listing them out here, ask yourself the question, “How does 2020 make me feel?” I am sure as you are reading this, it could be difficult to narrow your feelings down to just one emotion!!

The current issues aren’t going to disappear as we head into the holiday season.  In fact, these same issues may only swell.  Your attitude, outlook and disposition will make or break how you finish out 2020.

When this blog posts, there will only be 44 days left in 2020.  How will you spend the remainder of this year? I Thessalonians 5:18 is a powerful verse bearing a strong mandate to shift our heart and mind to line up together, especially when resting upon the topic of thankfulness. 

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

IN EVERYTHING?

Seriously?

Yep.

If the author, Paul, who was thrown from his high horse, blinded, chained, beaten, accused, imprisoned, mocked, hated and the more was still able to be thankful, he has every right to challenge the reader to be grateful in every situation.  No matter what is thrown at you, give thanks to God! He will show you the good in every situation. Even if it doesn’t look like it will change for a while, just say thanks!! Even if you feel like a toddler insisting to have things your own way, knock it off, and just say thanks! Even if it is an undesirable situation, just say thanks! Even if that person irks you like no other, just say thanks!  “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” (Melody Beattie)

 “A thankful heart is a happy heart.”  Someone must have taught you that along life’s way.  Well, science tends to agree with the statement as well. 

According to the smart people at Harvard, “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. People feel and express gratitude in multiple ways. (Harvard Health Publishing).

It’s amazing how science continues to support and prove the Bible correct over and over!  Paul’s words are no nonsense: “give thanks in every situation!”

Gratitude has same effect on the brain than when a major stress is relieved. Thankfulness gives health to the body all the way around! Positive emotions give greater satisfaction and more hope.  Intentional thankfulness enhances interpersonal relationships by focusing one to become more empathetic, less materialistic, more relational, more content and therefore have more joy! (R. Emmons). When gratitude is expressed more often, the body seems to spend less time experiencing aches and pains and the need to go to the doctors.

Look at these other prescriptions for thankfulness:

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Col. 2:7

“Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.” Eph. 5:4

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Col 4:2

Thankfulness is liberating!!!

As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Thanksgiving next week, let us be reminded that “a thankful heart is a happy heart.”  So, I challenge you to “put on a garment of praise for a spirt of heaviness” Choose to be thankful! Get out that Sharpie marker, write on your name tag, “Hi I am thankful,” and watch your perspective change!!!