Actually, there are.

When overwhelmed with thoughtful gratitude, you may find yourself looking for the right weight of a word. “Thankful” on Thanksgiving seems too obvious, too simple, maybe even trite. Yet it is one of the most powerful words we have. Both in the telling and receiving. What other words come to mind when thinking of your thankfulness? Thankful, grateful, blessed, encouraged, affirmed.

How do you feel when someone randomly expresses thanks to you for a job well done, or better, for just being you; thankful for who you are, how you live, the love you give? What drives you to express those sentiments to another?

Thankfulness is a condition of the heart. Without knowing it, we all have bazillion things to be thankful for, most of which get us through our day to day living. Those are the low hanging fruit to mention around the thanksgiving table.

But the real issue of the heart begins with one’s worship of God. Whenever we gather to worship, we’re saying “thank You” to the Lord. Why else would we gather? Let your thankful heart begin with the Lord.

The Psalmist instructed Israel to be quick to thank God because of His faithfulness in redeeming them from Egypt, and even in a time of captivity.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary” Ps 107:1-2 NASB (Ps 105:1; 106:1)

If you need a beautiful reminder of God’s redeeming work for us spend a minute in Eph 2:4-10.

The heart of a thankful one will quickly move to the people the Lord puts in your path, family, your community. There are plenty of words to express a grateful heart towards one another. Let’s practice gratitude with generosity.

I’m finding myself overwhelmed with gratitude for so many people and blessings, challenges and victories, seasons and songs. So much. Thank you, Lord for your continuing, ongoing, never ending grace. James 4:6

Perhaps you didn’t wake up this morning with all the feels of thanksgiving. That’s okay. Take some time to process where you are, and look for what comes easily, knowing that God is always full of grace to give. Trust Him, find rest in Him.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

‌To my dear family, friends and extended Grace family, let me borrow Paul’s words as I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:3-6